UCT captain Seb Golding says that his team has had something of an overhaul this year and are ready to upset some of the top sides in the Varsity Hockey tournament which starts at Wits this weekend.
Two new coaches from overseas and an influx of both youth and experience means that the Cape side has a completely new look to it this year and Golding is hopeful of catching a few teams out when action gets underway.
“We have had about five experienced guys come back to study post-grad, and some promising young players as well. We also have two new coaches who have installed a more professional ethos in the team than it had before,” he said.
Dutch coach Bert Tremmerswaal and English coach Ed Gonazales-O’Mahoney have had a major influence on the side already and Golding says that they have a completely different mentality which may give them an element of surprise in Varsity Hockey.
“In recent years UCT has been known as a team that are there for the ‘jol’ and just want to play attractive hockey, but that mentality has changed with the new players and coaches. This is definitely the strongest team I have played in here,” he said.
However, the UCT skipper knows that competition will be tough, and said that he expects the rule innovations such as the powerplays to play a big role in the competition.
“There are some very strong teams playing, the USSA tournament is always a good standard and the fact that the games will be televised adds something as well.
“I think the powerplays are going to be really important, and it is critical that you take advantage of them and develop a gameplan surrounding them as they could be the turning points in the match,” he explained.
