NWU-Pukke may have lost all their matches in the opening weekend of Varsity Hockey in Potchefstroom but all is not lost.
This is the reassurance of their coach Elun Hack after the first round which saw them lose by a single goal against UFS-Kovsies, UJ, UP-Tuks and Maties respectively.
“I think the girls played well in all four games, although there were a few key elements where we let ourselves down. We managed to build sufficient pressure, but failed to score goals when it was needed.
“It was frustrating not to get a win out of the weekend. We were one of the sides who played the most consistent hockey even if the results don’t show it,” Hack said.
Wits will be hosting the second leg of the tournament with Pukke facing the hosts on Friday, followed by UCT and NMMU. Thereafter position five on the log will square off against position eight, while positions six take on position seven. Pukke are currently placed seventh.
“Every game is going to be massively important and each one is going to pose a unique challenge. The girls will need to keep their composure, they will have to be patient, they will need to be focused and disciplined. As we saw this past weekend, early goals are going to be crucial and it will be imperative that we try and play at the highest possible tempo,” he added.
It is a task they are not taking lightly.
“We are going to put a lot of work into our goal scoring. We have to, our backs are against the wall. There is still a mathematical chance of making the semifinals and in order to do so we need three bonus points wins. It’s non-negotiable. If we don’t succeed in doing that, we are gone,” he stated.
He is also adamant that he and his team owes a debt to those who chanted and cheered them on.
“The team would like to thank everyone who attended the games for their support. We were as frustrated as they were by not winning a game, but we will rectify that. It is not over for us.
“We have a few tough training sessions this week before we go to Johannesburg. We have a job to do, we have another bite of the cherry and we won’t let our supporters down,” he said.
By Bertie Jacobs
