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All the news for Thursday 13 April 2017

Germany Claim First Match Of Series Over Green Army



2 goals in the space of 3 minutes in the final quarter took some of the shine off a positive Irish performance against the Olympic bronze medallists.

The opening quarter of the fixture saw the Green Army soaking up a lot of pressure from the world number 7 side.  Stalwart Shirley McCay dealt with waves of German attacks entering the circle but very few shots or tangible chances resulted. Lena Tice and Yvonne O’Byrne were also called upon to be in top form as the Germans applied high pressure on the backline, rarely giving them an inch from which to formulate their own attack. Discipline appeared at the core of the Green Army’s play with only 1 penalty corner resulting from a strong quarter by the hosts. Nicci Daly had the chance of the quarter for the Irish as the clock wound down but her shot zipped just wide.

Katie Mullan, captaining the side and fresh from Irish Senior Cup and EYHL title wins with UCD, led by example in the press, and consistently put the German side under pressure and forcing errors. The Green Army appeared to be fast growing into the game following the initial barrage from their hosts and Gillian Pinder was the first to draw a fine save from Julia Ciupka in the German goal.  Germany earned their second PC of the game moments before the half time whistle and following a goal-mouth scramble the danger was eventually cleared to see the score remain 0-0 at the break.

Germany began the second half as they had started the first with an onslaught on the Irish circle but McCay and Hannah Matthews were alert to the shots and crash-balls in. The goal that Germany had been pushing for came in the 39th minute courtesy of Naomi Heyn, scrappy play around the goal saw the ball fall to Heyn who scored on her reverse. Pinder and Deirdre Duke linked up cleverly in the German circle to earn a PC towards the end of the third quarter but the chance yielded no return as Germany cleared the corner and quickly countered.

Pinder was again causing the German defence trouble with her gliding runs and her pass to Nikki Evans saw the final shot skim past the post. Grace O’Flanagan was on hand to make several good saves throughout the game but there was little she could do about Camille Nobis’ powerful PC strike to make it 2-0 in the 53rd minute. Erin Getty, earning her first senior cap, didn’t look out of place against the Olympic bronze medallists with her weaving runs through midfield. The victory was sealed for Germany when Laura Keibel scored with 3 minutes left on the clock to round out the 3-0 score line.

Germany 3 (Heyn, Nobis, Keibel)
Ireland 0

Starting Line Up: G O’Flanagan (GK), Evans, Mullan (Captain), McCay, Tice, Pinder, Colvin, Daly, Matthews, Wilson, Duke

Subs: Buckley (GK), O’Byrne, Beatty, Upton, Getty, Russell, Meeke 

Fixtures:

Germany 3 vs 0 Ireland. 12/4/17 18:00 in Dusseldorfer Hockey Club (Local time)
Germany vs Ireland. 13/4/17 15:30 in Dusseldorfer Hockey Club (Local time)

Irish Hockey Association media release

King Kellerman of Kampong looking to make more defining EHL memories



In a team packed with big stars, Bjorn Kellerman shone brightest of the lot in Barcelona in 2016 to provide a trio of moments of inspiration that will go down in EHL history.

In the semi-final, he produced a remarkable long pass into the path of a sliding Robbert Kemperman to touch home first time in their win over Atletic Terrassa.

A day later in the FINAL, Kellerman was pivotal to the two defining moments in bringing the title to Utrecht for the first time. Again, his vision was incredible, shooting a 60-metre pass on his backhand from the left sideline to find Quirijn Caspers to score with an exquisite chip.

Kellerman then applied a beautiful volley in the closing stages to conclude the 2-0 win over AH&BC Amsterdam. Looking back, he tells the EHL website, it was something he will hold forever as a magical memory.

“The EHL round in Barcelona was awesome, nice weather and lots of people, especially Kampong people,” he said. “Our first game against [Atletic] Terrassa was really good; we beat the guys easy with beautiful goals. The long pass i gave on Robbert Kemperman was nice and everybody enjoyed it!

“In the final, we played against our big enemy Amsterdam. We had never been as close with Kampong to winning a trophy as this.

“My backhand pass was great but the goal of Quirijn was brilliant,” he adds modestly. “A soft ball over the shoulder of the keeper, really technical! That I scored the crucial 2-0 was a really great feeling. Celebrating that goal and winning man of the match, I was really happy for the team and Kampong. We had a really big party!”

And now he is back and looking to cause more havoc as Kampong look to continue the journey to potential title retention. They start against old nemesis Rot-Weiss Koln, the current league leaders in Germany, a side they beat 5-1 in the KO16 a year ago.

“Yeah, I really looking forward to playing against RWK. It's the number one of Germany so it will be tough. I think this weekend in Eindhoven will be really difficult but the KO16 round will be ours!

“I really didn’t know much about them at the start of this week. We only started to analyse RWK this week and then make our tactical plan to beat them. German teams are always difficult so we have to play a really good game for a victory.”

For the second season running, Kampong had a slow start to the season but have won their last three Hoofdklasse games and five of their last six to move within a point of the playoff places.

“Yeah I'm really happy with the form of the team,” Kellerman said. “Last weekend, we beat Hurley with 7-1 and the week before we won 4-1 so we score really easily. We're now on the fifth place and the coming games are really important. We play against Bloemendaal, HGC and Oranje-Rood in three finals in a row and then hopefully we reach the play-offs.”

He says the EHL KO16 will be the perfect jump-off to build momentum for a big few months and does not read anything into his loss to Amsterdam’s Mirco Pruyser in the golfing challenge!

“That challenge with the guys was really cool; Mirco won the battle but we will win the EHL. I think we are going to reach the FINAL4 in Belgium together with another Dutch team. We will see after this weekend which team will join us!”

Euro Hockey League media release

In-form Bakker and Amsterdam can raise their level even further



AH&BC Amsterdam’s Billy Bakker served an ominous warning to KO16 opponents HC Oranje-Rood (Saturday, 15.00 CET) as he reckons his in-form club “have more potential” in their locker despite a breathtaking start to 2017.

They have won six out of seven games in the Hoofdklasse since the return after Christmas, notably beating SV Kampong 3-1 and beating leaders HC Bloemendaal 3-2 last Sunday in a brilliant tie with a 2-2 draw against Rotterdam their only setback.

Those results have lifted Amsterdam into a share of first place in the table with a ticket to the playoffs already assured with three games to go.

“Yes our team are in a good form at the moment!” Bakker told the EHL website about how his side is playing at the moment. “I still think we have even more potential to be better as a team; we want to grow every week.

“We are focusing not on the individuals in our team. Every time we need to play a game, we want to be better dan the week before as a team. Our peak is in our sight but we haven’t reached it, hopefully it will be there in the important matches of the EHL and the playoffs of the national competition.”

Bakker, himself, has been in particularly scintilating form with some of his recent strikes against Hurley likely to make shortlists for goal of the season. It follows a successful spell with the Kalinga Lancers at the Hockey India League in tandem with his Netherlands’ training.

“I feel good at the moment. With the intensive program of the national team, I am still growing as a player and person. The HIL was an experience I recommend to every top player. It’s not only the many crowded matches you play but also the challenge to perform with your team from all over the world.”

A feature of Amsterdam’s play is likely to be Bakker’s interplay up front with Mirco Pruyser and Valentin Verga.

“You are right, I play a lot of combination hockey with Mirco and Valentin. We have played for 10 years together in the first team of Amsterdam so it is easy to find them on the field and I know what they individually want.”

Challenges, though, do not come much bigger than the 2015 champions at their Eindhoven home. Indeed, Oranje-Rood were the last team to beat Amsterdam all the way back in November in the Hoofdklasse and also pipped them in the three-game playoff final.

“We are really looking forward to play against Oranje Rood! especially because last year we lost the title by an inch! It is a good team with enough experience and they have the most internationals in one team. But compared to last season, we are stronger and we are ready to have a battle again in this wonderful European competition.”

Euro Hockey League media release

Balancing act

Goalkeeper-captain Sreejesh says medal is priority but coach Oltmans fields an experimental side for the Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.

By Aravind Suchindran,

India has picked six members from the Junior Hockey World Cup winning side in their 18-man squad for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, the first international competition of the season which gets underway in Ipoh, Malaysia, on April 29.

Of the six, three from the junior World Cup side will make their debut with the senior team, while head coach Roelant Oltmans also named a fourth debutant in goalkeeper Suraj Karkera. Defender Gurinder Singh and midfielders Sumit and Manpreet are the other three debutants. Harmanpreet Singh, Harjeet Singh and Mandeep Singh, part of the Junior WC side, also figure in the team as Oltmans looks to the future.

Dutchman Oltmans hopes to experiment with an eye on the Hockey World League Semi-Final in London in June. However, he admits he’s careful not to mix it with the target of the team for the tournament, which is to win a medal.

“Every tournament we go in with the same target — to win a medal,” he said. “I can’t say we’ll win everywhere we go. What do we do? We go with aggression, have a good mental approach and it’s a test for ourselves. We need to learn where we are going wrong because it’s not the most important tournament. But the guys will give their maximum in every match and go with the right amount of energy.”

But how will Oltmans balance the two things — transition and medal prospects — in a tournament that also features top sides like Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Great Britain, apart from hosts Malaysia? His captain and goalkeeper, PR Sreejesh, feels that trying out new things in this event should not come at the cost of a medal. “If you know where you stand, you can predict medal prospects. Our first priority is the medal and not experimenting too much at the cost of it. The players have to give minimum 70 per cent consistently in all their matches,” Sreejesh said.

Oltmans though has his answer. He says the core group will remain intact while fresh blood will be pumped in whenever required.

“Core of our senior team is always there in any tournament but it’s good for juniors from the 2016 squad to get new opportunities to showcase their talent,” he said on Tuesday. “We have a good core group now. We have to find which places can be exchanged. We played the final last year. We have to find out our combinations for the major tournaments. Whether they’re 18 or 32, it doesn’t matter. I look into their performance. That’s where we need to see how they perform in the Azlan Shah Cup. The best will join us for the World Cup next year of course. Look at Jamie Dwyer of Australia, he played till about the age of 37. Everyone has a chance in this group.”

India’s matches
April 29: vs Great Britain; April 30: vs New Zealand; May 2: vs Australia; May 3: vs Japan; May 5: vs Malaysia; May 6: Final

Bharat Chettri is goalkeeper coach

Former India goalkeeper Bharat Chettri, now 35, is part of the Indian team support staff as the goalkeeper coach. Chettri was in line for the job after other former internationals Arjun Halappa and Jugraj Singh were appointed as assistant coaches. He joined the team 10 days ago. But while Halappa and Jugraj will travel to Malaysia with the team, Chettri will not go along.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh (captain), Suraj Karkera; Defenders: Pardeep Mor, Surender Kumar, Rupinderpal Singh, Harmanpreet, Gurinder Singh; Midfielders: Chinglensana, Sumit, Sardar Singh, Manpreet Singh (vicecaptain), Harjeet Singh, Manpreet Singh; Forwards: SV Sunil, Talwinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, Affan Yousuf, Akashdeep Singh.

Mumbai Mirror

Share good rapport with Sreejesh: Bharat Chetri

BENGALURU: Three international players who have one thing in common - an abrupt end to their international careers - are trying to chart a new course in their hockey careers. Following former captain Arjun Halappa's appointment as assistant coach, former drag-flicker Jugraj Singh and 2012 London Olympics skipper Bharat Chetri (goalkeeper) have joined the Indian camp at SAI, South Centre in similar roles.

Chetri, who faced the axe after the London Games, said he was looking to give back to the sport which is an integral part of his life. The 35-year-old, who joined the camp at the beginning of the month, said, "It feels good to be in the camp in a different role now. The sport has given me a lot and I believe I can give something back by helping youngsters."

Having played alongside current skipper and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh for almost 10 years, Chetri believes their personal rapport makes it easier for them to work together. "We've known each other since 2003 when he was with the junior team and I was in the senior camp. We are working together on a few flaws in his game. We discuss the nuances of the game and also on how to help the younger players," said Chetri.

The Times of India

Australian Country teams tour Hong Kong

Holly MacNeil



The Hockey Australia Country teams arrived in Hong Kong on Friday after a successful week in Vietnam.

Their match schedule hit off the following day with fixtures against the Hong Kong national teams. Hong Kong is preparing for the upcoming All China Games and were keen to perform well.

In what was an entertaining game, the Wattles proved too strong for their local counterparts and finished 5-0 victors. The locals were not without their opportunities but were denied by the resolute Wattles defence. The game was played a fast pace and highlighted the thorough preparation undertaken by the Wattles.

The Aussie Venom also proved victorious with a 4-1 score line against the Hong Kong men’s team. The locals scored in the opening minutes setting the scene for an exciting and hard fought game. Both teams displayed a high level of skill and commitment and it was a strong second quarter that set up the result for the Venom.

The remaining four games of the Hong Kong leg of the tour are against local clubs that feature strong expat contingents including quite a few Aussies. The Aussie Country teams anticipate a testing week ahead on the pitch.

Hockey Australia media release

Stats Speak: Know the Women teams of World Cup Qualifier (HWL-Round 3 SF)

Indian eves are likely to get berth in World Cup

By B.G.Joshi (Sehore-Bhopal, India)

There will be 16 teams in fray in 14th edition of World Cup, scheduled to be held in London in July 2018. Thus only 4 teams to be eliminated from HWL-SF of 20 teams.

Malaysia, Poland and Chile have never played in World Cup. It hopes that India will be in World Cup after missing Hague (2014).

In 2013 Rotterdam World Cup Qualifier (HWL-R3 SF) India failed miserably as ace striker Rani Rampal was not in the team. Now Rani (191 caps, 111 goals) is in team as a captain. Thus Indian women are likely to get berth in World Cup (2018).

Azure Italian also have fair chance to play World Cup after 42 years. Here are statistical highlights of all 20 women team:

Fieldhockey.com

‘Being favourite was unfamiliar’, says women's hockey coach

Marijne Sjoerd feels the girls sometimes lose a match even before they step on the field

Uthra Ganesan


Marijne Sjoerd. 

It was the best possible start to his stint with the Indian women’s hockey team, but Marijne Sjoerd doesn’t really care. He knows his team was favourite to win, but is also aware that the victory means little in the larger scheme of things for the future.

The Hockey World League Round 2 win in West Vancouver that helped the team advance to the next round — also a World Cup qualifier — was the Dutchman’s first outing in charge of the team and the 42-year-old knew better than to call it a big achievement.

“It was a stretched tournament for us, we played only four matches in nine days, with lots of rest. That is not really very nice for keeping our rhythm through the tournament. But we concentrated on the next games and trained hard. We had no problems playing against those teams, in terms of fitness, that was a good thing. The team’s technical skills are good,” he said, speaking to The Hindu from back home in Holland for a short break. The team also broke up and will reassemble on March 23.

Lack of faith

As coach of the Dutch side that won 7-0 in the only match against India he has been involved in, Sjoerd had little idea about the bunch of girls he was to take charge of till about a month ago.

“I feel the players are worried that Argentina or South Africa is better than them. At times, they lose a match even before they step on the field. Also, I did not know then that this was the first time the team was favourite in a competition, and it was a strange place to be in for them,” Sjoerd said.

“The mental problem was there in the beginning, as I said. We spoke of the Olympics, where they did not win a single match, and I felt that the girls look up to the other teams, which is really not necessary. Yes, they have to learn and I am not saying they will immediately start winning. But they have to begin believing in themselves somewhere,” he insisted.

Captain Rani Rampal, all of 22 and already one of the senior-most players in the side, appreciated the attacking, aggressive hockey the Junior World Cup-winning coach brought into the side. But Sjoerd wants the aggression to be mixed with a structured, patient style to be most effective.

The coach is clear that there will be changes in the team between now and Johannesburg, specially with a six-game test series in New Zealand thrown in next month as part of the preparations. “Against a strong team like New Zealand is when I will really see their level and only then can I say something, I cant say which position the team will finish in, but the skills are there to give us a chance against every team,” he said.

In Canada, India was the top-ranked side. At the Hockey World League Semifinals in Johannesburg in July, the level of competition will be completely different with Argentina (World No. 3), USA (6), England (2) and Germany (7) being some of the other teams.

The Hindu

Bhopal to host 7th Jr National Hockey Championship for men

NEW DELHI: Bhopal's Aishbagh stadium will host the seventh Indian Junior National Hockey Championship (Men) 'B' division from April 14 to 22.

The tournament will witness 25 teams competing in eight pools. The finalists are guaranteed an automatic promotion to the 'A' division.

The defending champions of the 'B' division The Mumbai Hockey Association Ltd beat Hockey Maharashtra in last year's final.

This year's championship occupies greater significance, thanks to the recent upsurge of Indian hockey over the past year. India's success at the Junior Men World Cup, coupled with consistent performances by the senior men and women teams have raised the profile of the sport in the country.

"The Junior Nationals for men are one of the highlights of our calendar year. The tournament shows us the strength and the depth of the grassroot system and forms a basis for future selection to the national teams," Hockey India secretary general Md Mushtaque Ahmed said.

"The hosts Bhopal have history for producing great hockey players, teams and academies and I have no doubt the tournament will be a rousing success."

Hockey Mizoram will take on Kerala Hockey in the opening match of the tournament on April 14.

The Times of India

Coaching staff and new athletes added


Russell Garcia

England and Great Britain Hockey are delighted to announce the appointment of Russell Garcia and David Ralph as Assistant Head Coaches for our men’s and women’s teams respectively.

In addition, we are welcoming four new athletes to our central training programme, with James Gall (University of Nottingham), Peter Scott (Team Bath Buccaneers) and Jack Turner (Durham University) joining our men’s squad, and Amy Tennant (Bowdon Hightown) added to the women’s programme.
 
Rio gold medal winners Alex Danson (Clifton Robinsons) and Nicola White (Holcombe) are now back in training with the women’s squad on a full time basis, while Ashley Jackson (East Grinstead) is not joining our men’s programme at this time.

Russell Garcia profile

Garcia becomes our men’s Assistant Head Coach and arrives with a fantastic CV both as a player and coach. He won Gold in Seoul in 1988, becoming one of the nation’s youngest ever Olympic champions at the age of just 18. He was later nominated for the FIH World Player of the Year award, and held the record number of caps for England and Great Britain, playing more than 300 times at international level and taking part in three Olympics. His coaching career is equally impressive; he was Scotland’s national coach for two years, later becoming Holland’s assistant coach. He was men’s head coach at Bloemendaal for four years, one of Holland’s biggest and most successful clubs, and he has also worked in Spain and most recently Germany with An Der Alster. With our men’s team building for important tournaments ahead, he joins at a key time for Bobby Crutchley’s men.

Garcia said, “I’m honoured to have been appointed, and hugely excited to be joining Bobby’s coaching staff. I can’t wait to start working alongside him, my fellow staff and the group of players. With major tournaments ahead these are very exciting and important times for our men’s team and I look forward to helping in every way I can.”


David Ralph
 
David Ralph profile

Ralph brings a wealth of experience to the role of Assistant Head Coach with our women’s team, having held the same position with our men since 2013. Winning more than 100 caps for Scotland, David is hugely experienced in international hockey, being part of our men’s coaching team at both Olympic & Commonwealth Games, as well as the World Cup and Champions Trophy. He was also England U21 men’s assistant coach and is now a key part of Danny Kerry’s coaching team. With gold medals at the European & Olympic games, and a home World Cup in London in 2018, he joins at arguably the most exciting time in women’s hockey history in this country.

Ralph said, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working with Bobby, the men’s team & staff, and now I’m hugely excited about joining the women’s programme. With major events this summer and the World Cup in London next year there are great opportunities ahead.”
 
Performance Director’s comments

Recently-appointed Performance Director Ed Barney said, “I am delighted to welcome both Russell and David to their new roles. Their CVs speak for themselves, and both will offer a fresh perspective to the men’s and women’s teams respectively.
 
“Russell is one of the best men’s players this country has ever seen, and on top of that he brings a new perspective to our coaching offering, underneath Bobby Crutchley.
 
“David has been a key part of the men’s coaching setup for a number of years, and we have first hand knowledge of the excellence he will now bring to our women’s team.
 
“We have taken a holistic approach to our coaching setup across both teams, and we believe that we now have in place a staff to give us fresh impetus in this new Olympic cycle.”


Alex Danson

Athlete update

Having impressed on the England team’s recent tour of South Africa, James Gall has been added to the central programme as a full time athlete. Peter Scott and Jack Turner, who also made their debuts on that tour, are joining as part-time athletes.
 
Goalkeeper Amy Tennant has been added to our women’s squad on a part-time basis, having successfully lined up for England earlier this year.
 
Ed Barney commented, “We were very pleased with how the men’s team performed in South Africa, and on the back of that we are delighted to add three players to the central programme. We deliberately left space for new players to prove themselves and earn the right to become central athletes, and James, Peter and Jack have done just that.
 
“Amy played an important role for the women’s team out in South Africa, and will offer very important strength in depth to our goalkeeping department.”
 
Ashley Jackson recently took part in an assessment programme at Bisham Abbey, but will not be rejoining the central squad for this summer’s international programme.
 
Having taken extended breaks following gold medal success in Rio, both Alex Danson and Nicola White are now back in training with our women’s team.
 
Upcoming fixtures

Our women’s team have just returned from a short training stay in Belgium, and later this month our men’s team travel to Malaysia for the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, when they will play as Great Britain.

On home soil, our women’s team face Holland in London on 11th June in a sold-out international, while our men’s team battle for World Cup qualification in the Hockey World League Semi-Finals between 15th and 25th June, also at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre and featuring the likes of Holland, Argentina, India, Pakistan and Scotland.

England Hockey Board Media release

PHF to be handed excessive funds for hockey uplift: Pirzada

ISLAMABAD  - Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Brig (R) Khalid Sajjad Khokhar and secretary Olympian Shahbaz Senior met with Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) minister Riaz Pirzada and PSB Director General Akhtar Ganjera here at the Pakistan Sports Complex on Wednesday. 

It was after a long time that Brig Khalid started public meetings, as he recovered from long illness. He informed the minister about the steps taken by the federation for promotion of hockey and also informed him about starting state-of-the-art hockey academy in Islamabad. 

The minister lauded the steps taken by Brig Khalid and Shahbaz Senior and promised about changing the astroturf of Naseer Bunda Hockey Stadium soon. He also promised to take every step to take Pakistan hockey back to old glory days and promised to provide excessive funds to the PHF so that they might go ahead with their plans. 

The minister also acknowledged the fact that use of latest technology was must and emphasised the need of working on modern-day training methods. “I hope soon the nation will hear very positive news about hockey and Pakistan will start prodding positive results in international events,” Pirzada added. 

The Nation

18th St Mary’s hockey festival ends on high note

Annette van Schalkwyk


AND THE WINNERS ARE: Meisieskool Oranje emerged as the winners of the 18th St Mary's hockey festival.

Over the past 18 years, the St Mary’s Investec Hockey Festival has consistently kept us on the edge of our seats and no different can be said about this year’s festival.

The event kicked off on April 6 with 32 teams in play from all around South Africa, as well as Zimbabwe and Namibia. The finals were played on April 9.

Meisieskool Oranje, St Mary’s, Waverley 1st X1, St Anne’s Diocesan College and Hoërskool Waterkloof qualified through rounds one and two to compete in the semi-finals on April 9.

The festival showpiece was the first semi-final, a pulsating affair between last year’s finalists St Mary’s and Oranje. The match was sent into five minutes extra time after the match finished 1-1.

A degree of caution and tired legs saw both teams take a more defensive approach to extra time and, with no further goals being scored, this fixture between Oranje and St Mary’s went to a penalty shoot-out for the second year in a row. Each team scored one from their three initial penalties and Oranje triumphed in the second round of the subsequent sudden death shoot-out.

The second semi-final between St Anne’s and Hoërskool Waterkloof was a more sedate affair. After a 1-all result, this match was also sent into extra time and finally a penalty shoot-out. The massively talented team from St Anne’s all scored their penalties to beat a determined Waterkloof 3-2 on penalties, sending St Anne’s into their first-ever St Mary’s Investec Hockey Festival final.

St Anne’s, under the guidance of former national men’s player and coach Carlos Pereira, were certainly the surprise package of the festival and full-value finalists.

The final was a competitive affair after St Anne’s opened the scoring through a tap-in goal from Sophie McDonald after an exhilarating run down the right by Daniella Rhodes. But relentless running and pressure from the Oranje team saw them run out 3-1 winners on the night and St Mary’s Investec Festival champions for the fourthh consecutive year. Stand-out players at the festival for Oranje were Mia Barnard, Simone Gouws and Lizanne Jacobs, but the entire squad, coached by Morne Odendaal, will again set the standard for schoolgirl hockey in South Africa in 2017.

Comaro Chronicle