Ahead of the final day of fixtures at the Kathea Energy Nkosi Cup three of the four final positions were already secured. There was merely a question of which ladies’ team would join SPAR South Africa in the final, while Namibia and South Africa would battle in the men’s final.
WOMEN – NAMIBIA 2-1 IRELAND
Namibia, the current African champions, knew a victory would secure their place in the final without having to worry about their match against South Africa later on today. 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 one player to stand up and be the hero on the day. That honor fell to Kiana Cormack who got her second of the game and it turned out to be the winner in the final quarter.
The result saw the Namibians confirm their participation in Tuesday night’s final setting up a dress rehearsal game against South Africa later on today.
Kathea Energy MVP – Petro Stoffberg (Namibia)
WOMEN – NAMIBIA 2-3 SOUTH AFRICA
The SPAR South Africa team were looking to complete a 100% group record and gain the ascendancy at least mentally ahead of the rematch in 24 hours’ time for the final. It took the game 19 minutes to find a goal and it came through a Tegan Fourie stroke just before half-time. The stroke was awarded after Stoffberg took Moabi out with a mistimed challenge.
SPAR South Africa extended their lead 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.
Kathea Energy MVP – Kayla de Waal (SPAR South Africa)
UNITED STATES 4-7 SOUTH AFRICA
The two teams have served out a 16-goal thriller earlier in the tournament and produced another goal scoring spectacular.
South Africa led through Mustapha Cassiem but were pegged back by Aki Kaeppeler. Steven Paulo made it 2-1 and 3-2 either side of Kaeppeler second and South Africa led at the half time.
They were pegged back again early in the second half before Mustapha Cassiem scored the goal of the tournament so far, filthy in its execution. Cassiem would complete a hat-trick and Ryan Julius would score to make it 6-3.
Both sides would score in the final quarter once for tournament break out star Dalpiarro Langford before Kaeppeler earned his hat-trick as USA bid farewell to the Kathea Energy Nkosi Cup.
Kathea Energy MVP – Mustapha Cassiem (South Africa)
by South Africa
