Thirteen of the 18-man squad announced for the Junior Hockey World Cup in India this December, are Varsity Hockey players. The SA U21 side will face the likes of Canada, Australia, Spain and Argentina in the competition and will be led by Varsity Hockey’s winning coach, Garreth Ewing of UJ.
Three Tuks players and four Maties players made the squad, while 2016 Varsity Hockey champions UJ boast an impressive five players. Garreth Ewing is confident that his side can go further in the tournament this year and had high praise for the role that Varsity Sports has played in preparing the young players.
“I’m very happy with the strength and balance of the World Cup team,” said Garreth Ewing. “All but one of whom is currently a full-time university student. Thirteen of those competed in Varsity Hockey. This emphasizes the importance of university teams to South African hockey, as a breeding ground and “finishing school” for future senior national talent.”
The strong UJ contingent in the squad, under the guidance of their university and national coach, Ewing, will bode well for the team’s cohesion.
“It’s been an advantage to me having five boys from UJ in the team,” said Ewing, “because I obviously get to work with them on a regular basis, but also because my two main flickers (Kyle Lion-Cachet and Courtney Halle) get to work on their skill as a team at UJ. They will be very important to our set piece at the Junior World Cup so it’s great that they can spend time together.
“It’s a healthy situation for us that nearly all of my team have played the high level of competition that Varsity Sports, and the recent USSA tournament offers to student-athletes. I know how they will cope under pressure because I’ve seen firsthand how they deal with the stress of competition, and as a result I have a good idea of their strengths and weaknesses.”
The competition begins on 8 December, 2016 in India.
U21 squad representing SA at the 2016 Junior Hockey World Cup:
Robert McKinley Maties
Siyavuya Nolutshungu
Kyle Lion-Cachet UJ
Courtney Halle UJ
Jayson Reed
Tylo Remke
Ryan Julies
Matthew de Sousa Maties
Charles Bowren Maties
Alex Stewart Maties
Nduduzo Lembethe Tuks
Tyson Dlungwana UJ
Khumo Mokale Tuks
Ryan Crowe UJ
Nqobile Ntuli
Walter Pfaff UCT
Tevin Kok Tuks
Amkelwe Letuka UJ
Coach: Garreth Ewing UJ
