An impressive number of national hockey players are gearing up to show their mettle when the Varsity Hockey competion kicks of in Potchefstroom this weekend.
National stars like Stellenbosch’s Illse Davids and Quanita Bobbs, the Potchefstroom goal-machine Sulette Damons, Johannesburg striker Bernadette Coston and Bloemfontein teenager Izelle Lategan will all be looking to light up the astro fields of the North-West University this weekend, when they represent their respective universities.
The competition, sponsored by First National Bank (FNB) and Mugg & Bean, will feature the eight university teams who will contest this year’s USSA A Hockey Tournament for women. They are the North West University (Pukke), the University of Pretoria (Tuks), University of Stellenbosch (Maties), University of Free State (Kovsies), the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU), University of Witwatersrand (Wits), the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Each team will play eight matches: seven round robin games and a playoff match to decide positions. The first three round robin matches will take place this weekend in Potchefstroom.
With so much talent in every team, predicting who will lift the trophy after the final on 20 May is near impossible. In fact, the result of every round robin game will be hard to predict, says NWU Puk coach Elun Hack.
“This will be an incredibly tight tournament, because there really isn’t much to choose between the different teams,” says Hack. “We won last year’s USSA Tournament, so there is some merit in identifying us as one of the favourites, but I truly feel we can finish first or we can finish fifth – it really is that tough to predict.”
Hack believes the trophy will go to the team who wants it most.
“It all depends on who is hungrier on the day. In my mind every one of these teams have what it takes to beat the rest. I think we might have a better idea of how things stand by the end of this weekend,” says Hack.
Hack says his team has the speed, counter-attacking intelligence and ability to score goals to give their opponents some anxious moments. Being at home this weekend might also give them an edge, but only a slight one.
“It might help us to have our home crowd behind us when the chips are down, but we must remember that this tournament includes players who have been involved in matches around the world and aren’t intimidated easily.”
The NWU coach believes Varsity Hockey has the ability to become a game changer in the South African hockey landscape.
“The exposure it will give the players and the opportunity to play against good opposition will make a big difference to our sport,” he says. “Hopefully this is an initiative that kicks off with a bang and just keeps growing after that.”
Schedule:
Saturday 20 April: 17:00: Pukke vs Maties; 17:00: Kovsies vs NMMU; 18:30: UJ vs Tuks; 18:30: Wits vs UCT.
Sunday 21 April: 14:30: Tuks vs Maties; 14:30: Wits vs UJ; 16:00: NMMU vs Pukke: 16:00: UCT vs Kovsies.
Monday 22 April: 14:30: UCT vs Tuks; 14:30: Wits vs NMMU; 16:00: Maties vs Kovsies; 17:30: Pukke vs UJ.
The matches between Maties and Kovsies (Monday at 16:00) and Pukke and UJ (Monday at 17:30) will be televised live on SuperSport 5 (Channel 205).
Squads:
NWU-Pukke: Anelle van Deventer, Danielle Kapp, Celia Evans, Amore de Wet, Jessica de Bruyn-Smith, Carli Gericke, Tania Kruger, Fay Irvine, Sulette Damons, Maartje Korten, Lenthea Kamffer, Stephanie Baxter, Tiffany Jones, Lauren Nina, Sinalo Jafta, Carissa Vorster, Michelle Dias, Sharne van Loggerenberg, Zonica Smith, Schani Moore, Melissa de Koker, Anita Bouwer, Janke Erasmus, Mariska Fourie, Chandre van Niekerk.
Maties: Hanli Hattingh, Nicole Le Fleur, Illse Davids, Suleka Brand, Quanita Bobbs, Sarah Bingham, Teagan van der Wath, Tee Mallett, Ruby Tihapane, Bronwyn Kretzmann, Rosie Lombard, Heather McEwan, Leigh Boardman, Erin Hunter, Farah Fredericks, Sherry King, Annalien Davin, Jenaed Brodell, Nicole Bartch, Chloe Pheiffer, Miceala Deidricks, Angelique Kellerman, Megan Liebertrau.
Kovsies: Roxanne Moster, Izelle Lategan, Inke Wolmarans, Tanya Brits, Danelle Greeff, Shevaun Botha, Minjon van Tonder, Kim Mentor, Lisa Hawker, Jacqui Ras, Line Malan, Lienkie van den Heever, Nicole Walraven, Sandre Pretorius, Cornelle Botha, Beatrix Westdyk, Madie Wessels, Jonelke Swanepoel.
NMMU: Lindsay van Niekerk, Cassandra Lister, Gillian Forbes, Jordan Le Clus, Lauren Jasson, Carla Edworthy, Danielle Judge, Robynn Botha, Leila Lokotsch, Talia Nomdoe, Tristan Schroder, Nicole Kemp, Catherine Meier, Keisha Arnolds, Tamlyn Snyman, Stacey Middleton, Christine Vorster, Namatai Mtisi.
UJ: Ashleigh Tarr, Bernadette Coston, Casey Jane Cowell, Charlizé Jonker, Georgina Crisp, Isabella Da Rocha, Jessica Santana, Jessica Pyper, Kaila-Ron Flemming, Kerry Anne Trebble, Kirsten Simone, Lanné Rossouw, Louise Coertzen, Nika Nel, Robyn Ormond, Sarah Alan, Sascha Graham, Virgilia Testa.
Tuks: Phumelela Mbande, Mmatsepho Modipane, Jenna-Leigh du Preez, Lisette du Plessis, Kara Stella, Chanelle van Zyl, Janie Porteous, Omari Pienaar, Kirsten Seale, Kelly Kaulback, Tarryn Moses, Izelle Verster, Kylie Oosthuizen, Jacinta Jubb, Jenna Shuker, Simone Barrett, Lilian du Plessis, Hlubikazi Siphamla.
Wits: Demi du Toit, Kirstie Thompson, Kirsten Morley-Jepson, Jaime Martin, Shannon White, Phil Raal, Lisakazi Maseti, Gabriella Garcia, Aimee Waterson, Jeanie du Toit, Kirsten du Toit, Philippa Nettleton, Christine Dignon, Ashlee McCrindle, Jessica Morris, Wendy Panaino, Zimi Shange, Alex Marachin.
UCT: Carey Clegg, Stacey Morley-Jepson, Katie Winter, Emily Tullis, Sarah Ive, Tracey Whitfield, Jessica Pollock, Caroline Wood, Candice Manuel, Alex Fuller, Keren Dugmore, Claire Brayshay, Annabelle Nichol, Amy Gibbings, Brittany Fenwick, Paula Dollman, Toni McCann, Tracey Green.
