After seven days of hockey on the Stellenbosch University (SU) astro turfs, both the South African Men and Women teams are the African Hockey Road to Tokyo 2020 champions, earning qualification to the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020.
The 2019 Hockey African Cup of Nations (AFCON) had the twofold prize of becoming continent champions and qualifying for the Olympics in one, as per Olympic and SASCOC requirements.
Both South African teams celebrating their victories. PHOTO: Francois Lombaard.
The South African teams started their tournament well, with the women being dubbed the strongest team in their tournament. The South African Men won their eighth title in a row.
The final standings in both sections were decided in the last games, where Lilian du Plessis gripped a hat-trick in the women’s final game, and Nicholas Spooner grabbed a hat-track for himself in the men’s final game; both players propelling their teams to victory.
When asking the Maties affiliated players how their tournament went, all were happy to have represented their country on their home turf.
SA Strikers Bili Ntuli and Keenan Horne, both previous Maties players, charging up the field in unison. PHOTO: Mike Wright.
“To play in Stellenbosch and to play on a turf that I know was sick,” said Andrew Hobson, a defender for South Africa and Maties.
Hobson wasn’t the only Matie-face amongst the SA squads; both current and past Matie players were ever-present, with SU alumnae Quanita Bobbs and Tarryn Glasby representing the women, and current student and Maties captain Alex Stewart, SU alumni Keenan Horne and Daniel Bell, and old Maties player Nqobilie “Bili” Ntuli representing the men.
“Having [Maties] guys who have your back and guys that you know and are familiar with helps tenfold,” Hobson continued.
Although they were playing on their home turf, the pressure was still high for the players. Alex Stewart, South African Men’s link, expressed this, saying that “it was quite pressurising because of how much this meant not only for us but also for SA Hockey and the development of the sport.”
Tarryn Glasby, a key player for the SA women and Stellenbosch University alumna, running one-handed while warding off an opponent. PHOTO: Francois Lombaard.
Nick Archibald, an MC of the 2019 Tournament, expressed his pleasure of being able to be part of the action this year. “It was the best hockey the African continent had to offer, and it measured out throughout. Ghana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Egypt, they were all brilliant. What made me even happier was that South Africa was just on top form,” he said.
Standout players for Archibald were Erin Hunter, the captain of the SA Women, and Austin Smith, the top goal scorer in the Men’s section.
AND SOUTH AFRICA TAKE THE WIN by beating Egypt 3-2. The @SA_Hockey_Men have won the African Olympic qualifier 🔥🇿🇦🙌🏼 #AfricanRoadToTokyo pic.twitter.com/CCbEWQuzf2
— SA Hockey (@SA_Hockey) August 18, 2019
When touching on South Africa’s qualification for the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020, Archibald expressed the same sentiment that many South African hockey fans share; being hopeful that SASCOC sends both hockey teams to the games.
“It was the best hockey on the African continent and no better way to end it off than for both South African teams qualifying for Tokyo. Now we need to get them there I suppose,” Archibald stated. “Obviously the money influx into South African hockey isn’t big, but hopefully the few thousand people that got to witness South African hockey over the last week will know and realise that they are worthy of that investment, and it would be a shame if we can’t take a team to the Olympics in 2020.”
However, it is not up to the public to choose who gets to go to the Olympics, but SASCOC.
“The goal was [and is] to put as much pressure on SASCOC as we could to send us to the Olympics,” continued Stewart. “We have officially qualified via the Olympic guidelines, and we have met SASCOC’s requirements as well, so now we have to sit and wait and hope for the best. But we have to go; we have to grow the sport.”
🔊 Yo South African Olympic Committee. @SA_Hockey Men’s + Ladies team just qualified for Tokyo. That’s pretty bloody awesome. How about you pull your heads in and let them go this time. 1st or 12th it’s an honour to represent your country at an @Olympics @FIH_Hockey #beproud
— Kieran Ian Govers OLY (@Wizza27) August 19, 2019
This was the third major tournament that has been played on the Stellenbosch turf this year. “Having hosted Varsity Hockey, USSA, and now Afcon, and getting really good results from all three, especially the gold medals for the SA teams, is just awesome,” said Kelsey Scott, Chairwoman of the Maties Hockey Committee. “I am just so proud of everyone!” Scott concluded.
All smiles in the stands as spectators got treated to their home teams playing strong hockey. PHOTO: Mike Wright.
The Goalkeepers of the tournament awards went to Cynthia Onyango (Kenya) and Jordyn Cliptone (Zimbabwe) in the Women’s section, and DJ Straus (Namibia) in the Men’s section.
Top goalscorer in the Women’s section went to Lillian du Plessis (SA) with 4, and Austin Smith (SA) in the Men’s section with 10.
The Player of the tournament awards went to Ongi Mali (SA) and Nicola Watson (Zimbabwe) in the Women’s section, and to Austin Smith (SA) in the Men’s section.
Austin Smith, the top goal scorer and player of the men’s section, dashing after the ball. PHOTO: Mike Wright.
Final placements of both sections:
Women:
- South Africa
- Ghana
- Zimbabwe
- Kenya
- Namibia
Men:
- South Africa
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Zimbabwe
- Kenya
- Namibia
SA players from left to right: Alex Stewart, Tarryn Glasby, Daniel Bell. PHOTOs: Mike Wright and Francois Lombaard.