Kathea Energy Nkosi Cup
The Ireland Women’s Indoor International Hockey team are returning home on Wednesday from participating in the inaugural Kathea Energy Nkosi Cup which was held in Wynberg, South Africa.
The format of the Women’s competition was that Ireland, South Africa and Namibia would play each other twice with the top two qualifying for the final on Tuesday.
The tournament began on Friday December 15th with the Group phase completed on Monday 18th December 2023.
DAY 1
IRELAND 4 SOUTH AFRICA 5
Indoor World Cup semi-finalists South Africa were the first opponents for Ireland in the Kathea Energy Nkosi Cup at Wynberg. Cailynn Den Bakker gave the hosts the lead.
Edith Molikoe increased their lead to make it 2-0 and a minute later it was 3-0 thanks to a goal from Bonolo Moabi. Before the half-time break it was 4 -0, Jess Lordant firing home from a penalty corner. The Irish got on the score board through Mikayla Power. South Africa made it 5-1 when Cailynn Den Bakker reacted quickest to a rebound when Malikah Hamza’s effort was saved and rebounded back into play. Laura Graham scored following a penalty corner to make the score 5-2. The Irish reduced the deficit to a single goal following two goals in a minute. Chloe Brown popped up on the right to make it 5-3 and then Jenna McCarlie scored on her debut for Ireland indoor to make the final score 5-4.
DAY 2
IRELAND 3 NAMIBIA 5
On the second day of the Kathea Energy Nkosi Cup Ireland took on Nambia. lt was Namibia who opened the scoring through Kiana Cormack from a penalty corner. Ireland pulled level in the second quarter through Sarah Patton. Kiana Cormack got her second of the game to make it 2-1 to Namibia. And she completed her hat-trick to leave the half-time score 3-1 to Namibia. Kiana Cormack made it 4-1. Ireland pulled a goal back through a penalty corner converted by Orla Patton. Ireland pulled another goal back through Mikayla Power to set up a grandstand finish. Ireland failed to find the leveller and in searching for it were caught on the break with Namibia finding a late goal through Azaylee Philander while Ireland pulled their goalkeeper in favour of another attacker. It finished 5-3 to Namibia.
The first of the two games between Namibia and South Africa ended in a 3-1 win for South Africa, meaning that two wins for Ireland and a second win for South Africa over Namibia would have made it possible for Ireland to reach the final
DAY 3
lRELAND 3 SOUTH AFRICA 4
Ireland took on the hosts for the second and final time in the group on Sunday which was the third day of the Kathea Energy Nkosi Cup in Wynberg. Nothing less than a win for Ireland would be enough to get them into Tuesday’s final. On the other side of the equation a victory for South Africa would secure a spot in Tuesdays final with a game to spare, but they knew they would face another tough battle against the Irish. Ireland took the lead when Sarah Patton scored first from a penalty corner. South Africa’s Edith Molikoe restored parity before the end of the first quarter. Her second goal of the game came in the 16th minute finishing a pass from Fourie. Her hat-trick goal came before half-time from another Tegan Fourie assist, this time at a penalty corner. 3-1 at the half-time break. Ireland came roaring back in the third quarter Chloe Brown pulled one back in the opening minute of the half with a brilliant penalty corner and the scores were levelled when Milla Fulton got her first international goal finishing coolly. The game was destined for the first draw of the Nkosi Cup when Molikoe scored to seal a victory for the hosts.
DAY 4
NAMIBIA 2 IRELAND 1
Namibia, the current African Indoor champions, knew a victory would secure their place in the final without having to worry about their match against South Africa later on Monday.
The challenge facing them was a tough one early on when Lily Lloyd opened the scoring picking up the rebound and firing home. Namibia would level in the 15th minute through a Kiana Cormack penalty stroke. The game was tense and frenetic and needed and Namibia needed some inspiration and it came from Kiana Cormack who got her second of the game and it turned out to be the winner in the final quarter. This confirmed Namibia’s place in Tuesday’s final meaning their final pool match on Monday with South Africa was a dress rehearsal of the final.
In that final pool match South Africa raced into a 3-0 lead. Tegan Fourie with a penalty stroke put them 1-0 up. South Africa extended their lead to 2-0 in the third quarter through Kayla de Waal and made it 3-0 with 6 minutes remaining from a Malikah Hamza penalty corner. But as the South Africans were cantering towards victory Kiana Cormack fired home a quick double to put a big finish on the cards, but the hosts held on to make it four from four. Final score NAMIBIA 2 SOUTH AFRICA 3
Namibia and South Africa also qualified for the Men’s final.
