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News for 08 May 2019

All the news for Wednesday 8 May 2019


FIH Pro League Scouting Report: USWNT vs. Australia



In anticipation of the U.S. Women's National Team's upcoming FIH Pro League match, here is a scouting report you’ll want to review before the starting whistle.

Game Day: Friday, May 10, 2019

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

Location: Spooky Nook Sports, Lancaster, Pa.

Live Stream: Don't miss a second of the FIH Pro League action and watch the USWNT take on Australia this Friday. The FIH has signed a four-year media rights agreement with Bleacher Report Live for the territories of Canada and the United States. Bleacher Report Live is operated by Turner Sports, a division of WarnerMedia. The platform, which is Turner’s live sports streaming service, will be the primary destination for all fans to watch FIH Pro League matches.

FIH Pro League single games are available paid per view for $2.99 per match or $19.99 for the FIH Pro League 2019 Season Pass (all matches). Click here for the FIH Pro League live stream landing page.

Opponent: Australia

FIH World Ranking: 3

Head to Head: The last time these two teams met was in the USA's third FIH Pro League game at the Sydney Olympic Park Hockey Centre. An exciting match saw USA leading 1-0 going into the final quarter, but it was the experienced Hockeyroos who came from behind to score twice and claim the win.

Prior to that USA and Australia went head-to-head three times during the 2017 International Festival of Hockey in Melbourne, Australia, played in November just before the Sentinel Homes Hockey World League Final in New Zealand. The first game, which was a test match and did not count toward the tournament results, spanned to be an even contest with both teams seeing chances but it was Australia who came out on top with a 2-0 victory. Despite an early lead in the second match USA was cut short of victory as Australia rallied to win 3-2. The Hockeyroos scored three unanswered goals to wipe away USA’s first half advantage. Lastly, they met in the bronze medal game where Australia's huge third quarter propelled them past the USA by a final of 5-0.  

Head to Head
(since 2013)




13 Previous Matches
3 Draws

 

2

Won

9
17

Total Goals

31

What You Need to Know: Australia's Hockeyroos were in brilliant form at last year's Vitality Hockey Women's World Cup London 2018, topping their pool ahead of New Zealand, Belgium and Japan before knocking out Argentina in the quarterfinals via a shootout. They were the only team that came close to beating eventual winners The Netherlands, taking the mighty Dutch to a shootout in the semifinals before suffering a heart breaking defeat. The manner of that loss certainly took its tool, with the team struggling to hit their previous heights in the bronze medal game, losing 3-1 to Spain. Despite that fairly unsatisfactory ending, Australia's stellar performance in London earned a huge amount of admiration. Under the guidance of head coach Paul Gaudoin, himself a former men's international with the Kookaburras, Australia are once again a force to be reckoned with and will be looking to bring back to the glory days.

The initial squad selected for the FIH Pro League contains the majority of the athletes that competed at last year's World Cup in London and also the Champions Trophy in China, where the Hockeyroos finished in second. Jodie Kenny and Emily Smith both having more than 200 appearances for their country, while a further six players have more than 100 international caps to their respective names. One of those is Rachael Lynch, nominated for the 2019 FIH Goalkeeper of the Year Award, who is likely to make her 200th international appearance in the coming months.

Recap of Australia's Previous Game:
It was second versus fourth in this fixture as No. 4 Argentina looked to continue a sensational run of form which saw them win six successive FIH Pro League matches coming into this meeting against No. 3 Australia. Las Leonas were 1-0 winners of the reverse fixture in Sydney thanks to a solitary strike from Delfina Merino, a player absent for the rematch against a Hockeyroos team that are still the only team to have claimed an FIH Pro League victory over reigning world champions and league leaders The Netherlands.

The hosts made a lethargic start in their attempt to close the gap on the Dutch table-toppers, falling behind just two minutes into the match when Maddy Fitzpatrick’s high drag flick hit the roof of Argentina’s net, with goalkeeper Maria Mutio getting a touch but unable to deflect the ball away to safety. However, the home fans had something to smile about in the second quarter when Silvina D’Elia struck an emphatic equalizer, bringing great reward to the penalty corner won by Player of the Match Julieta Jankunas.

Eugenia Trinchinetti missed Argentina’s best opportunity of the third quarter when she failed to get a touch in front of an open goal, with the Hockeyroos successfully absorbing long spells of pressure from the hosts to ensure that they would at least take a point from away from their trip to South America. However, it was the hosts who took the bonus point with a 3-1 win in the shoo-out, with D’Elia, Carla Rebecchi and Jankunas scoring the goals and goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino coming off the bench to only concede once.

Australia's Roster: Click Here

USFHA media release



For Graham Reid's India, Australia tour the first step to prepare for bigger tests ahead

Debayan SenSenior Assistant Editor


The Indian hockey team celebrates after beating Pakistan in the bronze medal match at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta. They missed out on direct qualification for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. AP Photo/Aaron Favila

The Indian men's hockey team begins life under new coach Graham Reid with a tour of Australia that starts on May 8 in Perth against the Western Australia Thundersticks. India then play two matches against Australia 'A' on May 10 and 13, before meeting the senior team on May 15 and May 17.

Thus far, 2019 has been a relatively lean year, and with the Series Finals in June to follow, finishing in the top-two there would assure India of a place in the Olympic qualifiers between October 25 and November 3, later in the year.

Here's why the Australian tour will be a critical tune-up.

New coach, and finally some game time

The Azlan Shah Cup in the last week of March has been the only significant outing for the Indian team, even as the first edition of International Hockey Federation's (FIH) new flagship event, the Pro League took off without them. While India will be part of the Pro League 2020 onwards but the absence of the top teams meant the Azlan Shah Cup saw India unbeaten in the pool stages against South Korea, Canada, Poland, Japan and hosts Malaysia. India lost the final on shootout to the Koreans, but the lack of quality opposition since their quarterfinals-finish at the World Cup last December means the five matches in Australia should give them some good exposure ahead of the FIH Series Finals.

FIH Series Finals

Reid, formally appointed on April 8, has only had three weeks with the side, and has recalled penalty-corner specialist Rupinder Pal Singh for the first time since the Asian Games. Jaskaran Singh, a 25-year-old midfielder, is expected to make his India debut during the tour, while Armaan Qureshi, member of the Junior World Cup team in 2016, will lead the forward line alongside the experienced Mandeep Singh and Gursahibjit Singh. Gursahibjit made his debut at the Azlan Shah Cup, but wasn't among India's scorers as they found the board 25 times in six matches. Expect all of these names to make a push for inclusion to the Series Finals squad with their performances.

The FIH Series Finals, originally supposed to be held in Bhubaneswar, Odisha in June, is likely to see a change of venue due to Cyclone Fani.

The top options for the alternate venue so far are Lucknow and Raipur.

What to expect from Reid as coach?


The tour of Australia will be the first assignment under new coach Graham Reid, who was appointed to his post on April 8. Hockey India

Reid, who was head coach of Australia as recently as during the Rio Olympics in 2016, is likely to lay emphasis on speedy, attacking hockey from the Indian team.

"The new coach constantly reminds us why a team player holds more value to him than an individual player with excellent skill set," captain and midfielder Manpreet Singh told PTI as the Indian team left for Australia. "He also instills winning mentality in every player and confident body language has also been an area of focus apart from game-specific tactics."

Where would India's focus be during this tour?

The 18-member squad that travels to Australia has an experienced back line, with PR Sreejesh in goal joined by the likes of Rupinder, Harmanpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra and Kothajit Singh.

It's the midfield and attack, where Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma and Sumit Kumar Junior will all be looking to make an impact. "This tour will provide me with a great chance to get to know this group of players. It comprises a well-balanced mix, including some younger players, a debutant [Jaskaran] and a player coming back from long-term injury [Rupinder]. To be able to play four matches against world-class opposition will be a great opportunity to test our players under pressure," Reid had said when announcing his squad.

ESPN Australia



Goals galore on final day of EH Champs finals action


2019 EH O40 T1 Champs Rugby & East Warwickshire

The final day of action at the 2019 EH Champs Finals was once again packed full of action, with 28 goals scored across the four finals on the Early May bank holiday.

Kent began the day in final style as they beat Southampton 7-1 to claim the Men’s O60s Tier 2 trophy.

They raced into a 4-0 lead at half-time through Jim Laslett, Mandeep Harsra and a double before Henry Robinson, before the latter completed his hat-trick in the 38th minute.

Less than a minute later Robinson then added a fourth for him and a sixth for his side while Mike Rudd also found the goal in the 51st minute. Eric Holt finished the scoring though as he grabbed a late consolation for Southampton.


2019 EH Champs Kent

While that game was full of goals, it still paled in comparison to the Men’s O60s Tier 1 final which followed next as Warwickshire & Worcestershire beat Iceni Rex Essex 10-1.

Kevin Coleman and Balkar Jawanda both grabbed hat-tricks for the midlanders, with David Harris and Gurmail Singh also grabbing two goals apiece, while Chris Szpak scored the only goal for Iceni Rex Essex.


2019 EH Champs Warwickshire & Wocestershire

The next game was a slightly more sedate affair as Reading secured the Men’s O50s Tier 1 crown with a 4-1 win over Stourport.

Terry Pollard and Ian Hammond stunned Stourport as both found the target in the first four minutes to give Reading the upper hand.

Timothy Wood halved the advantage shortly after half-time but within moments Andrew Spooner had restored Reading’s two goal lead before captain Andrew Holden added a fourth just one minute from full-time.


2019 EH Champs Reading

In the final game of the day Rugby & East Warwickshire stopped Isca from winning their second EH Champs trophy in as many days by beating them 3-1 in the Men’s O40 Tier 1 final.

Luke Hurle and Chris Duerden had given their side the perfect start as they led by two goals at half-time, only for Chris Bryant to pull one back for Isca in the 51st minute.

However in the dying moments of the game Greg Wade secured the title for his team and ensured the trophy would be heading back up the M1 at the end of the day.


2019 EH Champs Rugby & East Warwickshire

England Hockey Board Media release



Champs Butali go top of the league

By AYUMBA AYODI


Kenya Police captain Oliver Echenje (left) vies for the ball with Butali's Karis Tristin during their Kenya Hockey Union Men's Premier League match at City Park, Nairobi on April 20, 2019. PHOTO | SILA KIPLAGAT |  NATON MEDIA GROUP

Champions Butali Sugar Warriors head coach Dennis Owoka warned his rivals to watch out after his team demolished Strathmore Gladiators 7-0 on Sunday to waltz to the top of the men’s Kenya Hockey Premier League.

It’s a weekend that saw former champions Kenya Police and Greensharks also register vitals wins for good positioning in the league.

Kenya Police rallied from 3-0 down to bring down the high-flying Western Jaguars 5-3 in Kakamega on Saturday, while Greensharks had downed Sailors 1-0 on Labour Day.

Interestingly, Butali and Wazalendo, who didn’t have an assignment last weekend as well as Jaguars and Greensharks have nine points each, but they follow each in that order based on goal difference.

“That is a pointer of what our opponents should expect in days to come,” said Owoka, after their demolition job against Gladiators, a victory that came a fortnight after they edged out former champions Police 2-1.

Francis Kariuki and George Mutira scored a brace each to spur Butali Sugar to a comprehensive victory.

Moses Ademba, Constance Wakhura and Calvins Kanu also nailed the ball past Boniface Muna in the Gladiators goal to hand Butali their third consecutive win.

“We didn’t expect it to be this easy, but it’s our game pattern that worked well for us,” said Owoka.

“We pressed upwards to cut off their midfield as we deployed three players inside their circle and two outside.”

Owoka said the victory sends a message to their opponents as they prepare to meet United States International University in their next outing.

It was Gladiators fourth defeat of the season, a result which sees them stay at the bottom of the 10-team league standings with a point. It’s perhaps the worst start to the season for the two-time champions.

“We simply didn’t show up and the boys will surely learn through the hard way,” said Strathmore’s coach Meshak Senge.

“Ï really can’t blame the rookies in the team since our major problem is confidence.”

On Saturday, Western Jaguars’ unbeaten run came to an end when they squandered a 3-0 lead that came within the first 20 minutes to lose to Police 5-3 at Eregi Teachers College.

Police are now sixth in the log with four points, one behind fifth-placed Parklands, who forced a 2-2 draw against 2012 champions Nairobi Simba.

Conrad Wafula startled visiting Police when he sunk a hat-trick in quick succession in the 14th, 15th and 20th minutes.

Then Robert Masibo would drill a brace in the 25th and 29th minutes, with skipper Oliver Echenje sinking in between in the 25th minute to level and lead Police's thrilling comeback.

The Patrick Mugambi coached Police would silence the young Jaguars side further when Samson Kibirir and Samuel Wokila scored in 33rd and 39th minutes respectively to put away the duel.

Daily Nation



For the love of the game

Sarah Juggins


Scott Tupper and Jamie Wallace (CAN). Photos: Yan Huckendubler

What does it take to be an elite hockey player? Obviously technical ability, tactical intelligence and a good level of fitness are vital components of any good hockey player’s DNA, but there are other, very important qualities that are the difference between mediocrity and excellence.

Scott Tupper began playing as a junior international in 2003 and has been a member of the national squad ever since. He has also enjoyed stints playing with some of Europe’s top teams and, even as he approaches 300 caps for his country, his enthusiasm for the day to day life as an athlete remains undiminished.

However, a couple of injuries have persuaded this most competitive of athletes that he might need to re-set his training routine. “It has changed in the last year or so. I have always been a skinny guy but I do love lifting weights but I have had a couple of injuries in the past season that suggest that I have either been unlucky or my body isn’t as able to cope with the stress.

“To counter this, I have had to lower the intensity and workload of my training leading into tournaments. That is a little change I have had to make. I just have to be more conscious about eating well and sleeping well.”

“And,” he adds with a grin, “I am conscious that I cannot engage in as many social activities as I did in my 20s.”

Jamie Wallace is at the other end of the playing scale, with 27 caps to his name, but injuries have been a bug-bear of his too. “From 16 through to 18 I had a pretty big growth spurt and that led to a number of little niggles and injuries. I saw the physiotherapist every week and I developed a very strong foundation in the gym.

“Now, I have grown into my body and so it is about getting stronger without putting on too much weight. I also work constantly on my speed as I am not the quickest over a short distance, so sprint work is an important part of my training.”

It’s not just training that makes athletes successful. In fact, rest and recovery are right up there as essential components of an athlete’s lifestyle. The national program for Canada’s athletes builds in essential rest periods for its players. In fact, for the national squad rest and recovery is mandatory.

“We are told ‘don’t touch your stick’, or we are told not to exercise,” says Tupper. “Then there are other times when we have active recovery, so that is light work, maybe in the pool or on the bike. We have what is called fitness protocols where you might not be active but you are with the team. It is all about taking care of your physiology. It is very important that guys who have had a few days off, maybe to nurse an injury, are brought back at the right intensity so they don’t get instantly injured.”

There is also the question of managing commitments to club as well as country. National team players regularly join European clubs, whose intense league season can take its toll. It is a scenario Tupper knows well as he spent several seasons playing for top clubs in Germany and Belgium: “For the guys who are playing in Europe as well, it is important that a rest period is built in because club and national commitments can take their toll.”

While the national program sets certain fitness training sessions in place, all players are expected to take responsibility for developing their own targeted areas for work away from the group. As Wallace points out, there is always room to improve, whether that is speed, strength, flexibility.

When it is competition time however, the group goes into a different mode altogether. This interview was carried out the day after Canada’s second match at the FIH Series Finals in Kuala Lumpur. The athletes had suffered a first match defeat at the hands of Wales but bounced back to win the second match against a combative Austrian team. The conditions were energy sapping, with temperatures in the high thirties [degrees centigrade] and humidity levels extremely high. Both games had been played at a high tempo and it is true to say Tupper and Waller looked exhausted.

“I will spend most of today off my feet,” said Tupper. “I may watch a movie in my room. Some of the guys might go to the Mall across the way to watch The Avengers that is out in the cinema. The thing is, we might be tempted to explore, particularly in a cool city like Kuala Lumpur, with its markets and so on, but it is extra time on your feet and we can’t afford that. It is good to catch up on sleep and regain some energy. For me, it will be drinking coffee, rehydrating with plenty of water and just getting ready for the next game.”

Prior to travelling out to Malaysia, the Canada team had taken as many steps as possible to prepare for the hot and humid conditions. This year, they had played in Malaysia in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, so had experienced the Malaysian climate but, as Wallace explains, the coaches had their own ways of recreating Malaysia’s climate in a cold Canada.

“Back home, at training, we would wear six or seven layers with a garbage bin layer underneath in an attempt to simulate the conditions here. We would also hop in our cars after training and go to a sauna or do hot yoga. Those were the things that we were doing to get our bodies ready for the heat.”

Then there is the mental preparation.

The national team have started working with former national ice-hockey player Chris Beech, who now teaches mindfulness as a means of improving athletic performance.

Beech works with the Canadian players on breathing techniques, relaxation and visualisation. For Tupper, this means listening to a relaxing audio prior to a match so that he is in a calm state when he gets onto the pitch. Some of the players use the techniques to relax after a game, others use it on a daily basis. Again, the onus is on the athletes to take responsibility for their preparations.

One area of team and individual preparation that has changed dramatically in recent years is the use of technology to both gain information on the opposition and to help players improve their own performance.

“Technology has changed a lot since I started,” says Tupper. “In 2003, you would literally walk into a room and watch a video with the coach. Now every guy has clips sent to their phone. Before each game we have 10 or so videos either on our own game or on the opposition.”

The coaches use the video clips in a number of ways. Some video clips are relevant to the whole team: how an opposition sets up an attacking press; others are focused on more specific areas, relevant to just a sub-group of players. Yet other clips might focus on an individuals’s performance in certain situations, for example, for a player involved in a shoot-out,  how the opposition’s goalkeeper might react in a one-on-one situation.

“You can get a good discussion going from a clip,” says Tupper. “You might get two or three guys with a different opinion on how a play started or how we could have handled it differently, so you get good conversation between the group about what our solution can be. We tend to watch clips on our own, then we join the group and have discussion and hear other people’s viewpoint.”

Talking to the two athletes ahead of their next FIH Series Final game, one thing is very clear; no matter what age the athlete, being an elite hockey player is not a job, it is a tough and uncompromising lifestyle.

Pan American Hockey Federation media release



Wolfpack: One Chance is All You Need

By Mike Barminski, U.S. Men's National Team midfielder



When I was in second grade, I did my first biography report ever on USA track star, Jesse Owens. I can still riddle off a few random facts about him: he was born in Alabama, Jesse wasn’t his actual first name, he attended The Ohio State University and, of course, he won four gold medals for Team USA in the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games. However, one thing Jesse said always stuck with me more than any random fact.

When I first read that quote at the age of 8, it didn’t take on the meaning I think Owens intended it to have. I was confused. What was my “chance?” All I “needed” to do was something, for what? Nonetheless, it always was there in the back of my head.

To someone who doesn’t play a sport at an Olympic-caliber level, 2019 may not seem like a big, important year. Those are normally the even numbered years: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024 or LA 2028. However, it’s the preceding years before the Olympic Games like 2019, that either see dreams come to life or have dreams fade into the background for new ones in the future. I’ve seen my fair share of the latter. I remember not going to London 2012 and I remember tearing down my poster of Christ the Redeemer after Rio 2016. Despite those moments, the dream has never changed…just the year.

“One chance is all you need.”

Our “chance” is to claim a place in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games through performing at the Hockey Series Final this year in India, then advancing onto the next round, as well as the Pan American Games in Lima, Peru.

We have a huge year ahead of us and there is a lot at stake. But 2019 has been in our sights. We’ve known about this chance for quite some time.

As a matter of fact, we, as a team placed a plan together two years ago. I can still remember sitting in the humid hotel meeting room in Trinidad and Tobago. We had just finished third in the FIH Hockey World League Round 2 after winning in shootouts against Russia. All of us in that room knew that we needed to set a common goal, something we could all get behind. The Wolfpack agreed: qualify for the Olympics Game. We drew out the map of the next few years and what it would look like – training routines, camps, tours, tournaments, fitness even nutrition. 2017 is in the books. 2018 is old news. It’s time for 2019.

Coming into the FIH Series Finals and Pan American Games tournaments as the 25th ranked team in the world isn’t a big surprise for us. We have been an extremely young team the past five years and have had to face the adversity of being less experienced and far younger than our opponents for quite some time. But, with that comes extreme growth. Growth like beating a top-20 ranked team like France, two years ago. Growth like beating a top-10 ranked team like Ireland for the first time since I can remember, this past summer. These victories didn’t qualify us for the Olympic Games or any other tournament, they didn’t even give us more points for our World Ranking. But what it did give us, was the ability to know that if the chance came, we could do it.

I believe in this team. I believe in our dream. I believe in the words of Jesse Owen. I know “One chance is all we need.”

Now, playing for the U.S. Men’s National Team, Jesse’s quote has taken on a new form for me. The question of ‘what my chance was’ that had no direction before, is now clear. I know my chance and I know what my chance is for.

USFHA media release



Should the FIH take a closer look at this Varsity Hockey rule?


Kristen Paton of UJ during Kovsies v UJ at UCT on 3 May

At the heart of South Africa's Varsity Sports is what founder Francois Pienaar has termed ‘Sportainment’ – a merging of sport and entertainment. It’s why many believe stadium attendance is dropping or rising. Why we see empty seats despite high quality sport on show. The USA are leaders in Sportainment, and perhaps Varsity Hockey has become a leader in the hockey arena. One slight rule change has added an element of entertainment you won’t see at other hockey matches.

What you may not have noticed, is that in the USA, very few their sports allow for draws. Baseball, basketball, American football, ice hockey – you canot draw a match, there simply must be a winner. In the same mould, Varsity Sports introduced the penalty shootout for all Varsity Hockey matches.

Should a team reach the end of the 60 minutes, five players from each team step up to attempt to score past the opposition keeper. Only they aren’t attempting the traditional penalty flicks; they have eight seconds to dribble past the goal keeper, who is free to come off his or her line. It’s a thrilling end to any match!

Check out this example of a shootout. Probably the best you’ll see!

Stalemates are now the most exciting of matches. Perhaps this is something that should be implemented in international matches? What are your thoughts?

Check out this and other innovations and entertainment when Varsity Hockey resumes on 10 May. With matches live on SuperSport 10. Click here for fixtures! 

Varsity Sport media release



Madanapalle’s ‘hockey girl’ sets sights on Olympics

She did not take up science to concentrate on the sport



Sports and games are just hobbies for many. But to excel in a sport and being consistent in it is a rare thing. For Yarraballi Pravalika (18) of Madanapalle town, hockey is her life, and she has opted out of science stream in Intermediate to achieve her goal — represent India in the Olympics.

Ms. Pravalika, daughter of a head constable Yerraballi Venkata Ramana, is the last of three sisters. When she was in Class I, her father got her a toy hockey stick, and this sowed the seed for the sport in her. Soon, she insisted on getting a real hockey stick.

Studying at a private school in Madanapalle, Ms. Pravalika caught the attention of a hockey coach, when she was five years old. She kept practising the game all alone at the ground for long hours. For seven years, she hardly missed her practise, barring the time during examinations and when she was not well.

Noticing the girl’s perseverance, local hockey coach Guru Bhaskar got her admission at the Rural Development Trust (RDT) Sports Academy school in Anantapur. When she had passed her Class X with good score, Ms. Pravalika decided not to take science stream in Intermediate, but took commerce, so that her hockey practice was not hampered.

Apart from playing in district, inter-district and state-level competitions between her 8th class and Intermediate (2019), she played the nationals six times, under four categories — sub-junior, junior, senior and under 19. She played on behalf of the Andhra Pradesh women’s team in Chhatishgarh, Haryana (2017); Punjab, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu and Kerala (2018).

The 18-year-old says her one and only ambition is to play in the Olympics and make India proud. “I received the best training at the RDT academy. This year, I have joined B.Com. In the next three years, I want to become a member of India women’s team. I am constantly taking part in the ongoing tournaments and selections for the national team,” Ms. Pravalika said.

The emergence of Rajani, Chittoor-district based woman hockey player as the goalkeeper of the national team, had further boosted the morale of Ms. Pravalika. Incidentally, hockey hero Dhyanchand wields an inseparable bond with Madanapalle town.

Mr. Venkata Ramana said that at a time when girl children were facing several hardships to pursue their dreams, “it’s a matter of pride for me that my daughter is doing something at the national level”.

The Hindu



Hockey stars get set to defend their regional throne


Greytown High School first team hockey captain Emily Raw (left) and vice captain Sphesihle Kubheka look forward to leading their team.

DEFENDING champions Greytown High School will be hosting teams in the upcoming uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional for the South African  SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Saturday, May 11.

This region has produced four champions that have progressed to the grand finals in Durban each year.

In their first time winning this regional, Greytown High School managed to dethrone Wartburg Kirchdorf School — who had dominated the area for five consecutive years (from 2013). Prior to the Wartburg Kirchdorf era, Wembley and Ladysmith High both hoisted the trophy.

Six teams will be kitted up and ready to take to the field. First up in this regional is Greytown and Hermannsburg, as they get the ball rolling in the first of fifteen round-robin games at 8 am.

This is one of the smaller regionals in this ten-region tournament, that travels the length-and-breadth of KwaZulu-Natal in the build-up to the Grand Finals in July.

Participating schools from this area include host school and defending champions Greytown High School, together with Deutsche Schule Hermannsburg, Domino Servite, Estcourt High School, Wartburg Kirchdorf and Wembley College.

All games are 20 minutes long, with a win earning a team four points, a draw with goals two points, a goalless draw one point and a loss zero.

Once all the round-robin games have been completed, the regional final will take place between the top two teams.

The gold medal game gets underway at 1.40 pm, followed by prize giving.

Confirmed schools that already have tickets to the Grand Finals include St Anne’s Diocesan College (PMB North), Epworth School (PMB Central), Crawford College La Lucia (DBN North Regional), Durban Girls’ College (DBN Central Regional), Amanzimtoti High (DBN South Regional), Kokstad College (Southern KZN Regional), and Ferrum High (Northern KZN).

The day after the uMvoti, uThukela and uMzinyathi Regional, teams from the Highway area take to Thomas More College on Sunday for the Highway Regional. And then, the last remaining regional travels to Grantleigh School on Sunday, May 19. Thereafter the 2019 tournament wraps up with all the regional winners converging at the Grand Finals, taking place at St Mary’s DSG on the weekend of July 20 and July 21.

News24



Sally Munday to become new CEO of UK Sport


Sally Munday

England & GB Hockey today announce that Sally Munday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of England Hockey and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of GB Hockey, will be leaving in the Autumn to become the new CEO of UK Sport.

Sally has been working in hockey for more than twenty years and has been CEO since 2009. During that time, hockey has seen remarkable progress with significant growth in participation across all ages including the number of youngsters doubling in clubs, a massive step forward in broadcasting of hockey and gold and bronze medals at the last two Olympic Games.

Sally led the successful bids to bring back-to-back major events to London, including the 2015 EuroHockey Championships and the 2018 Vitality Hockey Women’s World Cup. More recently Sally has been integral in the development of the new world competition the FIH Pro League, which is providing a regular calendar of international matches in the UK, including a ground-breaking matchday at the Twickenham Stoop in June of this year.

Royston Hoggarth, Chair of England Hockey, commented: “This is a wonderful opportunity for Sally to apply her experience and knowledge, to play a leading role supporting Olympic and Paralympic sports at the Tokyo Olympic games and onward to Paris in 2024. On behalf of England and GB Hockey, I cannot thank Sally enough for everything she has done for the sport of hockey over the last 20 years.

"She leaves the governing body in an excellent place and the game at a very exciting time, with participation in our clubs continuing to grow and the new FIH Pro League debuting on British televisions this year. We look forward to working closely with Sally in her new role in the years ahead and we will always be proud to have her as part of the hockey family.“

Sally said: “I have been working in hockey for much of my career and I leave at a time where the sport is in a really great place. I am particularly proud of how through working with our amazing clubs we have used the profile of hosting events and international success to have such a massive impact on growing participation.

"I have had such a fantastic time working in hockey and it is hard to imagine leaving – the hockey family is very special. My hockey career started as a volunteer and I would like to place on record my immense appreciation to all the volunteers up and down the country who give so much to make hockey happen, whether at clubs or associations or as a Hockey Maker at one of our events. I would also like to thank my Board colleagues who have offered me support, guidance and challenge.

"Finally I would like to thank our amazing staff team in England Hockey who are so dedicated to moving the sport forwards. Whilst it will be sad to leave, I am excited about the opportunity in front of me to lead UK Sport and am looking forward to working with their team and my fellow CEOs from all the Olympic and Paralympic sports in the run into Tokyo and beyond.”

England Hockey will begin the process of recruiting for a new Chief Executive effective immediately.

England Hockey Board Media release



FIH mourns the death of former EB member Dr. Peter Wefers Bettink



Former member of the FIH Executive Board Dr. Peter Wefers Bettink, from The Netherlands, sadly passed away on Sunday 5 May.

Dr. Peter Wefers Bettink was the tournament doctor at the Champions Trophy in Amstelveen (The Netherlands) in 2003. That was the start of his involvement with international hockey. Among the many tournaments he was involved with, he was one of the Medical Officers at three consecutive Olympic Games (Beijing, London and Rio de Janeiro) and three FIH World Cups (Mönchengladbach, Delhi and The Hague).

He also chaired the FIH Medical Committee during many years with much dedication and enthusiasm. He will be remembered as having really raised the level of medical treatment in hockey.

He joined the FIH Executive Board in 2009 and remained in this role until the Board’s structure was changed the following year.

In expressing its condolences to Dr. Peter Wefers Bettink’s family, FIH also wishes to reiterate its deep appreciation of his contributions to hockey and FIH. In a personal letter to his widow Liesbeth, FIH President Dr. Batra and CEO Thierry Weil wrote: “Peter was an outstanding figure in the world of hockey and he will be sadly missed.”

Dr. Peter Wefers Bettink received the FIH Order of Merit in 2018.

FIH site

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