Other News
Big Test for the South African hockey in Malasia─── 16:21 Wed, 26 Jun 2013
Jonathan Cook
London - Incredibly humid conditions, a worryingly high level of air pollution and searching Pool B matches against world number four England, world number five Pakistan and world number 13 Malaysia await the world’s 12-th-ranked South Africa in the World League Semi-Final men’s hockey tournament in Johor, Malaysia from Saturday to next Sunday.
Smoke from large-scale forest fires in Indonesia has been drifting east and negatively affecting the air quality in Malaysia. SA team manager Martin van Staden, the Capetonian, said the build-up is going very well. “The team is acclimatising nicely. The mood is super-high after the recent 3-0 Malaysia series win and there are no injury concerns, the boys are looking fit and strong.
“Although there is a concern with the current smoke and pollution, which is being monitored closely, we do not believe it will affect the tournament at all. There has been some rain recently which has helped the situation.”
SA captain Austin Smith, the Capetonian who is a two-time World All Star selection, said from the team hotel Wednesday that the team had settled in well. “The air pollution is fine, temperature is hot and very humid and it rains most days is seems.”
SA play practice matches against Pool A teams Japan and Argentina in the build-up to Saturday’s opening Pool B match against world number four England at 3 pm (SA time) and to be televised live on SuperSport 7.
“The pitch is flat but very slow, we need to work hard to create any real ball pace around the field,” said Smith. “But it’s a nice hotel, everyone's in good spirits and excited to get going. Jet lag is tough yet we’re getting through it.”
SA head coach Charlie Pereira said the team had had two training sessions on very different pitches. “The A field is housed in a beautiful stadium and the surface is great. We also trained on the B pitch which was not as good; players found it sticky and struggled to slap the ball with any real purpose.”
Many challenges, but this SA team have been through many trials and tribulations in recent years and have the character to withstand just about anything thrown at them.
SOUTH AFRICA
Goalkeepers: Rassie Pieterse (Southern Gauteng), Gowan Jones (KZN Coastal Raiders).
Defenders: Austin Smith (capt, Western Province), Francois Pretorius (Northern Blues), Rhett Halkett (vice-capt, WP), Lance Louw (SG), Jethro Eustice (SG).
Midfielders: Jonty Robinson (NB), Clint Panther (SG), Wade Paton (KCR), Tim Drummond (KCR), Nick Gonsalves (SG), Taine Paton (KCR).
Strikers: Julian Hykes (SG), Craig Haley (WP), Pierre de Voux (WP), Miguel da Graca (SG), Lloyd Norris-Jones (WP).
Team staff - Charlie Pereira (Head Coach), Bartel Berkhout (Technical Advisor), Pierre le Roux (Trainer), Moabi Malebye (Trainer/Video Analyst), Robin van Ginkel (Conditioning Coach), Megyn Robertson (Physiotherapist), Martin van Staden (Manager), Jamie Kroukamp (Video Analyst).
South Africa’s Pool B Fixtures
All matches on SuperSport (all SA time)
Saturday, June 29 SA vs England 3 pm
Sunday, June 30 SA vs Malaysia 3 pm
Tuesday, July 2 SA vs Pakistan 3 pm
London - Incredibly humid conditions, a worryingly high level of air pollution and searching Pool B matches against world number four England, world number five Pakistan and world number 13 Malaysia await the world’s 12-th-ranked South Africa in the World League Semi-Final men’s hockey tournament in Johor, Malaysia from Saturday to next Sunday.
Smoke from large-scale forest fires in Indonesia has been drifting east and negatively affecting the air quality in Malaysia. SA team manager Martin van Staden, the Capetonian, said the build-up is going very well. “The team is acclimatising nicely. The mood is super-high after the recent 3-0 Malaysia series win and there are no injury concerns, the boys are looking fit and strong.
“Although there is a concern with the current smoke and pollution, which is being monitored closely, we do not believe it will affect the tournament at all. There has been some rain recently which has helped the situation.”
SA captain Austin Smith, the Capetonian who is a two-time World All Star selection, said from the team hotel Wednesday that the team had settled in well. “The air pollution is fine, temperature is hot and very humid and it rains most days is seems.”
SA play practice matches against Pool A teams Japan and Argentina in the build-up to Saturday’s opening Pool B match against world number four England at 3 pm (SA time) and to be televised live on SuperSport 7.
“The pitch is flat but very slow, we need to work hard to create any real ball pace around the field,” said Smith. “But it’s a nice hotel, everyone's in good spirits and excited to get going. Jet lag is tough yet we’re getting through it.”
SA head coach Charlie Pereira said the team had had two training sessions on very different pitches. “The A field is housed in a beautiful stadium and the surface is great. We also trained on the B pitch which was not as good; players found it sticky and struggled to slap the ball with any real purpose.”
Many challenges, but this SA team have been through many trials and tribulations in recent years and have the character to withstand just about anything thrown at them.
SOUTH AFRICA
Goalkeepers: Rassie Pieterse (Southern Gauteng), Gowan Jones (KZN Coastal Raiders).
Defenders: Austin Smith (capt, Western Province), Francois Pretorius (Northern Blues), Rhett Halkett (vice-capt, WP), Lance Louw (SG), Jethro Eustice (SG).
Midfielders: Jonty Robinson (NB), Clint Panther (SG), Wade Paton (KCR), Tim Drummond (KCR), Nick Gonsalves (SG), Taine Paton (KCR).
Strikers: Julian Hykes (SG), Craig Haley (WP), Pierre de Voux (WP), Miguel da Graca (SG), Lloyd Norris-Jones (WP).
Team staff - Charlie Pereira (Head Coach), Bartel Berkhout (Technical Advisor), Pierre le Roux (Trainer), Moabi Malebye (Trainer/Video Analyst), Robin van Ginkel (Conditioning Coach), Megyn Robertson (Physiotherapist), Martin van Staden (Manager), Jamie Kroukamp (Video Analyst).
South Africa’s Pool B Fixtures
All matches on SuperSport (all SA time)
Saturday, June 29 SA vs England 3 pm
Sunday, June 30 SA vs Malaysia 3 pm
Tuesday, July 2 SA vs Pakistan 3 pm
