23 April 2025
Each Nambia’s women and men’s u21 hockey groups are presently second on the log on the Junior Africa Cup in Windhoek and well-placed to qualify for the Junior World Cup later this 12 months.
The highest three women and men’s groups will qualify for the 2025 Junior World Cup, with the lads to play in Chennai and Madurai, India in November, whereas the ladies will compete in Santiago, Chile in December.
Within the males’s class, South Africa are the new favourites to win the Africa title after profitable their opening 4 matches in model, scoring 32 objectives and conceding solely 4.
They beat Zambia 12-3, Namibia 8-0, Zimbabwe 7-1 and Egypt 5-0 to steer the go browsing 12 factors, however Namibia went second after profitable two of their opening three matches. Of their opening match on Friday, they acquired off to a terrific begin with a come-from-behind 3-1 win in opposition to Egypt.
In a hard-fought encounter, the rating was nonetheless goalless at halftime, however Egypt edged forward by means of a subject objective by Basel Abdelmonem halfway by means of the third quarter. Namibia, nonetheless, made a surprising comeback within the ultimate quarter with Owen Hatton equalising whereas two quick nook objectives by JP Britz sealed a memorable victory for Namibia.
The following day they went down 8-0 to SA, with Jayden Brooker the star of the present with six objectives, however on Monday, Namibia bounced again with a 5-3 victory in opposition to Kenya.
In an entertaining encounter, Namibia went 3-2 forward by halftime and 4-3 by the tip of the third quarter, earlier than easing to a 5-3 victory. Captain JP Britz scored two quick nook objectives, whereas James de Jager, Jack Fourie and Abraham Graham every scored a subject objective, with Matthew Momanyi, Vincent Wesonga and Nirmaan Mudher replying for Kenya.
After the match captain Britz stated they’re in excessive spirits and fancied their possibilities of reaching the ultimate.
“For the time being, we’re fairly constructive. We did the arduous yards in opposition to Egypt on day one after we beat them 3-1, and as we speak was an enormous end result for us profitable 5-3 in opposition to Kenya. So in the mean time, we’re on six factors, wanting good and feeling very constructive,” he stated.
Britz stated their opening day victory in opposition to Egypt was a special occasion for Namibian hockey.
“It was a really special occasion for me being the captain of the workforce and having the ability to lead the workforce to victory. It was fairly a good recreation and we went down 1-0 within the third quarter, however then fortuitously we scored all three our objectives within the final quarter and simply saved our heads up,” he stated.
“We did every thing we wanted to do from administration facet and it was simply an excellent recreation general. I’m very proud of the end result and it was a really special occasion for Namibian hockey,” he added.
South Africa additionally lead the ladies’s competitors on 12 factors after profitable their opening 4 matches in model, scoring 33 objectives and never conceding any. Namibia, nonetheless, are in sizzling pursuit, mendacity second on 9 factors, after profitable their opening three matches.
On Friday they beat Kenya 3-0 after two objectives by Tisha Semedo and one by Maryke Neethling, whereas they surprised Zimbabwe with a 6-0 victory the subsequent day, with Onique Bezuidenhout and Mia Karsten scoring two objectives every and Marika Neethling and Maryke Kruger one every.
On Monday night they had been in irrisistible kind as they thumped Zambia 11-1 after main 6-0 by half time. Neethling led the way in which with a hat-trick, whereas Alice Rowles, Mia Karsten and Azaylee Philander every scored two, and Anica Higgs and Marlene Coetzee one objective every.
Namibia had been as a consequence of play Uganda final night time whereas their eagerly awaited top-of-the-log conflict in opposition to South Africa takes place tomorrow at 15h00.
* On Tuesday, each Namibia’s women and men’s groups certified for the finals, to safe their locations on the 2025 Junior World Cup. Namibia’s males beat Zimbabwe 4-1 to e-book a spot within the ultimate in opposition to SA, whereas Namibia’s girls, who beat Uganda 4-0, can even meet SA within the ultimate.
Supply: namibian.com.na
