The player who hails from Bethlehem in the Free State and attended Hoërskool Witteberg is one of several new faces in the squad has she will have her first of international hockey at the FIH Hockey World Cup in Spain and the Netherlands.

Serage told OFM Sport that she is both nervous and excited.

“I'm really excited, especially as my first call-up is for a World Cup. It's a very big tournament and I'm very nervous.

“I haven't played a tournament that a level of that kind.

“It's very exciting as well given that the team has a lot new and young players.”

Serage will be an understudy to Phumelela Mbande who the regular goalkeeper and is also co-captain.

South Africa is Group D for the World Cup along with Australia, Belgium and Japan.

The Proteas will open their campaign on 3 July against Belgium.

South African squad - Quanita Bobbs, Erin Christie, Bernadette Coston, Kayla de Waal, Lisa-Marie Deetlefs, Lillian du Plessis, Jean-Leigh du Toit, Robyn Johnson, Tarryn Lombard, Hanrie Louw, Marizen Marais, Phumelela Mbande (GK), Kristen Paton, Hannah Pearce, Christa Ramasimong, Nepo Serage (GK), Shindre-Lee Simmons, Bianca Wood, Onthatile Zulu.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport