The South African Women’s Hockey Team wrapped up their campaign at the inaugural FIH Nations Cup II in Walcz, Poland, with a string of performances that showcased both growing promise and painful near-misses. Under the guidance of new head coach Inky Zondi, the squad — a blend of experienced stalwarts and rising talent — faced a challenging draw but walked away with valuable experience and moments of inspiration, despite finishing 8th overall.
Game 1: Uruguay 2–0 South Africa
The campaign began on a historic but testing note, with a 2–0 loss to Uruguay. While the result was disappointing, the occasion marked key milestones: Hannah Pearce earned her 50th international cap, and three new faces — Shanna Medonca, Daniella de Oliveira, and Cerian Fourie — made their senior debuts.
Uruguay struck twice early through Manuela Vilar, and despite flashes of attacking promise and improved composure in the second half, South Africa couldn’t unlock a resolute Uruguayan defence.
Game 2: South Africa 3–1 Malaysia
The team responded emphatically in their second group match, overcoming a 1–0 halftime deficit to claim a thrilling 3–1 comeback win over Malaysia. Goals from Ntsopa Mokoena, Thati Zulu, and a penalty corner conversion from Hannah Pearce capped a spirited second-half turnaround.
The match also saw Malaysia’s keeper pull off two superb penalty stroke saves — denying both Quanita Bobbs and Tegan Fourie — but South Africa’s attacking resilience ultimately secured the crucial three points.
Game 3: Poland 3–2 South Africa
With a semi-final place on the line, South Africa faced hosts Poland in their final group game. They made a dream start as Quanita Bobbs fired home early, but defensive lapses allowed Poland to respond quickly and surge into a 3–1 lead.
Daniella de Oliveira sparked late hope with her first international goal after a strong run from Kayla de Waal, but despite a late push for an equaliser, Poland held on to knock South Africa out of title contention.
Game 4: Czechia 1–0 South Africa
Relegated to the classification matches, South Africa met Czechia in the 5–8 playoff. An early goal from Linda Nova via a penalty corner was all that separated the sides, but South Africa dominated the second half. Thati Zulu, Ntsopa Mokoena, and Kayla de Waal all came close, and Ongi Mali’s pace threatened to unlock the Czech defence, but brilliant goalkeeping from Anna Linkova left South Africa frustrated and empty-handed.
Game 5: Malaysia 1–1 South Africa (Malaysia win 4–3 in shootout)
In a rematch for 7th place, Malaysia edged South Africa in a dramatic penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw in regulation. Nur Azhar gave Malaysia the lead early in the fourth quarter, but Charné Maddocks equalised late to force penalties.
South Africa took an early lead in the shootout thanks to Bobbs, but missed chances allowed Malaysia to claw back and eventually triumph 4–3. The defeat capped a tournament filled with moments of growth and grit, albeit without the finish the team had hoped for.
Looking Ahead
Despite finishing eighth, the Nations Cup marked the beginning of a new era under coach Zondi — one that prioritises development and long-term vision. With several young players gaining valuable experience and key leaders like Pearce and Bobbs continuing to drive the side forward, the South African women’s team has plenty to build on as they look ahead to future international challenges.
“There were hard lessons, yes,” noted coach Zondi, “but there were also glimpses of what we’re capable of. We’ll take that forward.”
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