It was two wins for the South Africans on the evening session of the Kathea Energy Nkosi Cup as both the men and women put one foot into the final of the inaugural competition.
WOMEN – SOUTH AFRICA 3-1 NAMIBIA
The latest chapter of the rivalry saw the SPAR South Africans face off against the new Namibian side in the final game of the first round of pool games. The games between the team are always tight games and this one was no difference.
SPAR South Africa opened the scoring having failed to convert from a few penalty corners, the South Africans produced a brilliant flowing move that saw Kayla de Waal and Malikah Hamza combine for the former to score.
80 seconds later Kiana Cormack scored her first ever goal against South Africa, her 5th of the tournament to level matters. She scored from a tight angle after good work from captain Gillian Hermanus and it remained 1-1 at the half-time break. Sarah Paget made a remarkable save from a penalty stroke to keep the scores level, it would prove to be a pivotal moment of the game.
SPAR South Africa re-established the lead in the fifth minute of the second half. Danny de Oliveira took the penalty corner from the reverse side and fired it into the near side of the net.
It would take the South Africans until the final minute of the game, under tight pressure from Namibia, to wrap the game up with Kayla de Waal scooping it over Stoffberg in goals and confirming a 3-1 win.
Kathea Energy MVP – Gillian Hermanus (Namibia)
MEN – SOUTH AFRICA 11-5 UNITED STATES
Arguably one of the best games of indoor hockey ever seen on South African soil played out on Saturday night when South Africa and United States met. In a 16-goal thriller the South Africans produced sublime connections that would fill a TikTok channel with content for days.
There were three goals in the first two quarters, four in the third and a remarkable six further in the final quarter. South Africa consistently kept the USA at arm’s length in the match before cantering off into the distance late on.
In the combination play of Langford, Cassiem, Cassiem and Julius the South Africans were almost unplayable at times as they ripped and roared with tantalizing regularity. South Africa took the lead in the fourth minute through Mustapha Cassiem and after Steven Paulo made it 2-0 the scores were only level once more. Grassi and Comiskey restored parity before the South African party started.
Julius, Mustapha and Langford scored to make it 5-2 before a double from Kaeppeler made it a one goal game again. Mustapha completed his hat-trick before Langford added a second to make it 7-4. USA pulled on back before the African Champions stormed into the final five minutes with goals from Dayaan Cassiem, Keegan Hezlett, Ryan Julius and a hat-trick confirming goal for Langford.
A massive 11-5 win for the South Africans as they celebrate a first victory against USA and 6 points onto the table.
Kathea Energy MVP – Dalpiarro Langford (South Africa)
by South Africa
