National hockey IPT kicks off in Durban
The cream of the hockey playing crop will descend on Durban for the annual Inter-Provincial Tournament hoping to impress the national coaching staff on both the men's and the women's sides.
The tournament offers the men's players an opportunity to put up their hands for possible inclusion in the African Hockey Road to Paris qualifier tournament later this year as well as FIH Nations Cup and the Paris Olympic Games.
Western Province will be looking for the threepeat. A victory would also see the Cape side hold onto double IPT title having won the Indoor tournament earlier this year. National men’s captain Dayaan Cassiem is joined by international colleagues Jacque van Tonder, Sam Mvimbi, Keenan Horne, Matt de Sousa, Ryan Julius and Connor Beauchamp amongst others in a star studded line up.
In the women’s tournament the defending champions the Northern Blues will once again feature the bulk of the team that were triumphant in the 2022 tournament. Edith Molikoe the 2022 Player of the Tournament, will look to lead the team to a back-to-back championship run. With the likes of Jean-Leigh du Toit, Hanrie Louw, Celia Seerane and Tegan Fourie in their numbers, coach Inky Zondi will be looking for a big tournament from the team.
The SA U21 men's side finished in the bronze medal in 2022 and with a Sultan of Johor and FIH Junior World Cup still to play in 2023 they will be fired up as ever to ruffle a few feathers. Mustapha Cassiem will lead from the front for his team having already starred on the international stage. Cameron le Forestier adds a massive goal scoring threat while James Flint is a penalty corner weapon.
The South Africa U21 women's side will also be gearing up for their foray at the FIH Junior World Cup in Santiago in Chile later this year. Cerian Fourie, Tamlyn Kock, Taheera Augousti and Ntsopa Mokoena will all look to help Lenise Marais team cause a couple of upsets and go further than their semi-final in 2022.
The Mens B Section sees Border, KZN Robins, SACD and SG Witsies contest Pool A, while Pool B will see KZN Mynahs, Mpumalanga, North West and Northern Cape contest for favourable positions ahead of the Quarter Finals.
The women's B Section will see 10 teams compete for the title and a space in the A Section in 2024. In Pool A Eastern Province are joined by Eastern Gauteng and their U21 side as well as Mpumalanga and WP Peninsula.
Pool B will see Border, KZN Mynahs, KZN Robins, Northern Cape and SACD battle it out. The top two in each pool will secure a spot in the semi-finals.
SA Hockey Mens IPT – Fixtures – 21 August 2023
A Section
Pool A - Southern Gauteng Vs. Northern Blues
Pool A - Western Province Vs. WP Peninsula
Pool B - SA U21 Vs. Eastern Province
Pool B - KZN Raiders Vs. Free State
B Section
Pool A – SG Witsies vs. KZN Robins
Pool A – Border vs. SACD
Pool B – North West vs. Northern Cape
Pool B – KZN Mynahs vs. Mpumalanga
SA Hockey Women’s IPT – Fixtures – 21 August 2023
A Section
Pool A – Northern Blues vs. North West
Pool A – Southern Gauteng vs. SPAR KZN Raiders
Pool B – Western Province vs. Free State
Pool B – South Africa U21 vs. SG Witsies
B Section
Pool A – Eastern Province vs. Mpumalanga
Pool A – Eastern Gauteng vs. WP Peninsula
Pool B – SACD vs. KZN Mynahs
Pool B – Border vs. Northern Cape
