For the last time in the year the South African Women’s Hockey team took to the turf for a test match. Taking on a team that are ranked 15 places ahead with a looming Olympic Qualifier tournament on the horizon is a prime way to test the growth for the South Africans who had gained 150 ranking points and two positions over the 12 months.
The game started with acknowledgement of the milestone for Onthathile Zulu. Thati who debuted for South Africa in the 2019 African Hockey Road to Tokyo event reached her 50th cap for the country.
The game, much like the opening test, looked hardly like there were 15 ranking places between the teams as the battle was tightly fought and the Germans struggled to show their dominance thanks to the nuggety style and tenacity of the hosts.
Germany scored the game’s opening goal from a penalty corner. The first wave cleared the ball but the second ball that came back into the circle wasn’t cleared and when it fell to Huse the European fired home with a superb strike.
The longer the game remained with just the one goal difference the more the South Africans and their fans grew in belief. And spurred on by the crowd the South Africans continued to search for an equalizer it was the Germans who fired home through captain Nike Lorenz who smashed home when given space in the middle.
A year of positivity for the South Africans as there is clear signs of growth in the program as all eyes settle on the buildup to Paris 2024.
by South Africa
