South Africa and Namibia wrote the next chapter of their remarkable history in the inaugural final of the inaugural Sultan Nazrin Shah Cup. South Africa had won the game in the group stage, but Namibia was feeling up for the moment after one of their greatest days in beating Australia on Friday.
The game started with acknowledgement of Jethro Eustice, who was earning his 50th indoor cap for the country, his 221st international game for South Africa.
And it was Namibia who got the game plan perfectly in the opening quarter. South Africa had most of the possession, but Namibia pick pocketed a lead with their only chance in the first 10. Fagan Hansen capitalizing on a momentary lapse from the South African.
Brynn Cleak converted a brilliant counter attack to double the lead while the South Africans struggled to make their possession advantage count. At the half time break it was the Namibians that were happier as they led 2-0.
South Africa though showed the characteristic fight back that the country is so well known for. They pulled level through Keegan Hezlett producing a superb flick to pull back by one goal. But at the end of the third quarter South Africa still trailed by a goal.
The South Africans put their Namibians under a weight of pressure and were rewarded with a goal of the highest order. A through ball was played superbly to captain Eustice on the dive he finished incredibly.
The game stayed at 2-2 and just like the women’s final it was headed to a shootout. Namibia scored all 3 of theirs while Keegan Hezlett’s effort went just over, and the title was confirmed for Namibia.
There was consolation for South Africa as Steven Paulo was awarded top goal scorer and Bongumusa Mngoma won the top goalkeeper award.
by South Africa
