Many from Riverside - Riverside HC and VCHC - most making their debuts, are on display in this series. Good luck lads! KZN-packed SA hockey men tackle Austria in Durban TEST MATCHES (At Queensmead): Mon, 5 Jan (6pm); Tues, 6 Jan (6pm); Thurs, 8 Jan (6pm); Fri, 9 Jan (2pm). JONATHAN COOK A HOST of Durban-based players have been chosen to represent the South Africa men’s hockey team in a four-Test series against Austria at Queensmead in Durban from January 5 to 9. KZN Raiders goalkeepers Gown Jones and Richard Curtis, defender Mohammed Mea, midfielders Dan Sibbald and Ross Hetem, and strikers Andrew Manson and Mondli Dlamini will be donning the green and gold in a young, untried combination that will be piloted by SA men’s head coach Fabian Gregory, the director of hockey at Glenwood. Also in the 24-man squad, from which 18 players will be picked for each of the Tests, are Pietermaritzburg-based KZN Inland and Maritzburg Varsity players Leneal Jackson and Robin Jones, as well as the Maritzburg College-educated matt Guise-Brown and Marc Fourie. Others with KZN connections are ex-PMB Varsity players Jethro Eustice, Dalen Phillips and Damian Kimfley. It is a big year for South Africa, and a freshly-selected national squad will also play a Test against world hockey powerhouse Holland as well as a two-Test series against fast-rising Ireland under former SA Olympian Craig Fulton, in Cape Town from January 19 to 28. It is not South Africa’s strongest line-up, as several top players are unavailable for various reasons, some due to their franchise commitments in the lucrative Hockey India League next month. However, the aim of the January matches is to see who among the inexperienced youngsters will prove themselves worthy of a spot in the national side for the important World League matches in Cape Town from March 7 to 15 as well as the all-important Rio 2016 Olympic Qualifier event that takes place in Ismailia, Egypt from October 17 to 25. It is also a big year for Austria, whose leg of the World League matches is set for San Diego in California in February/March before they take part in the Euro Nations tier-two championship in Prague, Czech Republic in July. Austria mean business and will likely test the South Africans to the full, while the strong local flavour will ensure added interest for KZN fans. SA TEAM Goalkeepers: Richard Curtis, Gowan Jones (both KZN Coastal Raiders), Chad Durrheim (Eastern Province), Jason Briggs (Southern Gauteng). Defenders: Mohammed Mea (KZN Coastal Raiders), Daniel Bell (Western Province), Leneal Jackson, Robin Jones (both KZN Inland), Matt Guise-Brown (Northern Blues), Gareth Heyns, Jethro Eustice (both Southern Gauteng). Midfielders: Ross Hetem, Dan Sibbald (both KZN Coastal Raiders), Marc Fourie (WP), Taylor Dart (Southern Gauteng), Chad Cairncross (EP), Jonty Robinson (Northern Blues). Strikers: Andrew Manson, Mondli Dlamini (both KZN Coastal Raiders), Richard Pautz (Northern Blues), Keenan Horne (WP), Brandon Panther (Southern Gauteng), Dalan Phillips, Damian Kimfley (both EP).
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:40:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015