South Africa’s two hockey teams in action at the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday remained on course for places in Saturday’s finals, although the women had a much more satisfactory day than their male counterparts did.
They say 13 is unlucky for some, but there was no luck involved — bad or otherwise — in the way the South African women’s team took their Nigerian opponents apart at Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria.
It took the South Africans nine minutes to get on the score board and while there was no shortage of endeavour by the hapless Nigerians, they were not able to live with the superior skill and work-rate of Jenny King’s South African side.
As the game went on and Nigeria tired visibly, South Africa showed no mercy as they brought the score into double figures and then past the 10-nil score line that saw them beat the same opposition in the final of the All Africa Games in Abuja, two years ago. It ended on a whitewash score of 13-nil.
”It’s difficult to tell, but I think they may have deteriorated since then and playing at home may have had a role for them then,” said South African captain Lindsey Carlisle.
For the record, South Africa’s goal scorers were Henna du Buisson (three), Candice Forword (two), Tarryn Bright (two), Tsoanelo Pholo, Kate Hector, Dalean de Kock, Marcelle Keet, Nita van Jaarsveld and Lesley-Ann George, but it was an impressive overall team effort, held together by a typically staunch performance by Carlisle in the heart of defence.
Carlisle’s concentration ensured her team’s clean sheet and as time went on, Nigerian attacks became fewer in number and more desperate in nature as they tried in vain to break down the South African back four.
While the women were shooting goals past Nigeria for fun, the men were finding it much tougher to break down Egypt. They went behind after 40 minutes when Sameh Metwaly dragged a penalty corner past Chris Hibbert in the South African goal.
Although this was really just an academic dress rehearsal for Saturday’s final, it was clear that both sides wanted the psychological fillip of taking the victory. South Africa fought hard in the second half, and with 17 minutes left, they finally got a bit of luck with Steve Phillips deflecting a free hit into the Egyptian net.
They must know, however, that they will need to improve if they are to take gold here on Saturday, thus winning the single automatic qualification spot in next year’s World Cup.
The next game for South Africa’s women is against Ghana on Thursday — a game they will be expected to win, although the West Africans should provide somewhat stiffer resistance. The men will play Namibia on Friday. — Sapa