South Africa secured a quarter final place in the FIH indoor Hockey World Cup with a dramatic final minute goal to defeat Argentina 6-5 at Heartfelt Arena. South Africa couldn’t have asked for a better start as Mustapha Cassiem fed the ball to his brother in acres of space. As the Argentine keeper came forward to close Dayaan fired the ball into the roof of the goal. Just 18 seconds had passed at this point. The crowd included a number of school kids from the area were jubilant as Mustapha Cassiem showed his own individual brilliance to put Mayo on his bottom and finish into an empty net. The Heartfelt Arena was rocking. However, the Argentines are a team with superb flair and belief, and they continued to fight the South Africans finding a goal back through influential captain Juan Elecegui as the opening quarter ended 2-1. Argentina struck first in the second quarter through Navarro capitalizing in a period when the South Africans were slowing things down. The goal silenced the crowd somewhat before Chad Futcher reacted to a loose ball after a challenge on Mustapha Cassiem and fired the hosts back into the lead. Argentina levelled once again though with Ceballos scored from a penalty stroke after a penalty corner had struck Eustice on the line. The half-time came with the score 3-3. Early in the second half Dayaan Cassiem showed his own magical moment to score a reverse flick from an acute angle to re-establish the lead. It was a lead that was double by Chad Futcher with a penalty corner smashed home by Chad Futcher. 10 minutes remained for South Africa to confirm their spot in the Quarter-Finals for Friday. Argentina pulled one back through a Rodriguez effort from a penalty corner. It was a little disappointing for the South Africans as the shot lacked venom and caught the defense by surprise. It got more frustrating for the South Africans as another stroke was awarded when Cassiem was adjudged to hit the ball on the goal line and Ceballos levelled matters again. The South Africans showed the fight, showed the determination and were able to steal the match and seal a victory, a place in the quarter finals and the quest for glory continues. South Africa’s opponent in the Quarter Finals will be confirmed later on Thursday and will take place on Friday evening at Heartfelt Arena.   Source: SAHockey.co.za |

The fight for quarterfinal places heated up on day four of the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Pretoria, South Africa with one more day of pool matches remaining. There was no more intense demonstration of that than the men’s showdown between 2018 bronze medallists Iran and hosts South Africa. The home team thrilled a passionate Pretoria crowd by taking the lead with four minutes remaining but a stroke awarded in the dying seconds allowed the Iranians to level the scores at 4-4, meaning there’s all to play for in the final pool matches. “It’s a bit emotional not getting a result against a top-four nation where I feel like they got lucky,” said Mustapha Cassiem, who scored three of South Africa’s goals. “We didn’t defend well enough and if you let a team like this slide, they’ll use the opportunities against you.” Day four also featured two top-of-the-table clashes between Austria and the Netherlands, with the Austrian men and Dutch women emerging victorious. Making his scoring debut in the tournament was Austria’s Michael Körper, who flew in later than the rest of the team after helping his Harvestehuder THC side land the German Indoor Championship title over the weekend. Körper made up for lost time, scoring all four of Austria’s goals in their 4-1 victory over the Netherlands. “I’m definitely happy. Yesterday [against Belgium] I had many chances for four or five goals and I didn’t score, but it was my first game on this pitch. I arrived the day before,” said Körper. “So I got used to the pitch now and connected to the guys again and I think that showed today with four goals.” The tables were turned in the corresponding women’s fixture, where it was the Dutch who dominated proceedings to win 5-1, Donja Zwinkels completing yet another hattrick for 12 goals in the tournament so far. At the other end of the court, the Netherlands have conceded only two goals in Pretoria. Goalkeeper Lexie Heerbaart commented: “Our team defence is really on point and I really think we’re doing it together as a team. Our press is going great and I am happy to help the team wherever needed and be in the position to save some goals,” she said. Meanwhile, there was joy for Kazakhstan’s men’s side as they claimed their first win of the tournament. Having notched up a four-goal lead against New Zealand, the Kazakhs managed to hit the left and then the right post within a matter of seconds in their bid for a fifth goal. It was eventually Yerkebulan Dyussebekov who slotted it in off a penalty corner to seal the 5-0 win. “It is a good feeling because we won today. It was a strong match for Kazakhstan and a good experience in the World Cup,” said captain Daulet Urmanov. As for the prospect of taking on world champions Austria in their final pool match on Thursday, Urmanov added: “They are a strong team, but we have a good spirit so it’s not a problem.” New Zealand’s captain and goalkeeper Dean Armstrong was far from despairing after another loss for his team, who have now conceded 26 goals in the tournament so far. “It’s fantastic experience for us and that’s what we need,” he said. “We’ll pick up a lot of learnings from this… we really want to make sure that we’re taking those home and building so we’ve got something better when we come along next time.” At the age of 42, Armstrong has retirement plans just yet and is looking towards representing his country at the next World Cup. “I’m loving it here, it’s really exciting, some great hockey and the opportunity to play against the world’s best players is so addictive so I hope so.” Earlier in the day, the Belgian men’s side secured their place in the quarterfinals with a 4-1 victory over Namibia. In the other men’s pool, a 7-4 victory for the United States over Argentina saw the Americans finishing the day on top, also ensuring their passage through. Aki Kaeppeler scored three of those goals, his contribution crucial against the determined Argentinians, who have made an impressive impact on their tournament debut. “I think we were more clinical than in the other games so far and also we defended really hard as a team. We gave it everything and I think that’s the key to our success at the moment,” said Kaeppeler. As for the hattrick, he added: “I’m just happy that we got the goals and we got the win. I think we scored in important moments so that was good to get the momentum back on our side.” The Czech Republic women booked their place in the final eight with a 4-2 victory over Ukraine, while the South African women claimed their first victory of the tournament with a 1-0 win over Australia. 8 February 2023 Results Result: Match 19 – women Czech Republic 4 – 2 Ukraine Player of the match: Barbora Cechakova (CZE) Umpires: Lyndal Robertson (RSA), Ayden Shrives (RSA) Result: Match 19 – men Namibia 1 – 4 Belgium Player of the match: Philippe Simar (BEL) Umpires: Diego Barbas (ARG), Emily Carroll (AUS) Result: Match 20 – women Belgium 2 – 1 Namibia Player of the match: Laurine Delforge (BEL) Umpires: Adam Barry (AUS), Ornpimol Kittiteerasopon (THA) Result: Match 20 – men Kazakhstan 5 – 0 New Zealand Player of the match: Daulet Urmanov (KAZ) Umpires: Ayden Shrives (RSA) Melina Illanes (ARG) Result: Match 21 – women Kazakhstan 4 – 4 Canada Player of the match: Samantha McCrory Umpires: Andres Ortiz (ESP), Emily Carroll (AUS) Result: Match 21 – men Netherlands 1 – 4 Austria Player of the match: Umpires: Diego Barbas (ARG), Sean Edwards (ENG) Result: Match 22 – women Austria 1 – 5 Netherlands Player of the match: Donja Zwinkels Umpires: Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL), Lyndal Robertson (RSA) Result: Match 22 – men USA 7 – 4 Argentina Player of the match: Aki Kaeppeler Umpires: Adres

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Austria and the Netherlands were the only teams to maintain their perfect records on day three at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Pretoria, South Africa in both the men’s and women’s tournaments, so ensuring safe passage through to the quarterfinals. As a mark of respect for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, a moment of silence preceded the beginning of the day’s matches. After being pushed all the way by hosts South Africa a day earlier, the Dutch women were back to their goal-blitzing best, putting eight past Australia for a third straight victory. The Dutch have conceded just one goal in three matches at the tournament so far. “I’m really happy about how we played today,” said a relieved Netherlands captain Donja Zwinkels. “Yesterday we had a really tough game against South Africa – the goals didn’t quite go in. But today as a team we really stepped up a level and the passing was higher and the movement was better,” added Zwinkels whose four goals against Australia saw her climbing to the top of the all-time top goalscorers list for the Dutch in World Cups and European Championships with 34. The Austrian women had to come from 1-2 down to secure their 4-2 victory over New Zealand. Captain Miriam Gerö said a stern word from the coach after the first quarter made all the difference. “I think the first quarter was hard for us because we had no structure. Our coach said we had to wake up and I think that was the key point. So, from the second quarter on we scored the goals and that was nice,” she said. Equally thrilled with her team’s performance was Canadian captain Alison Lee whose side pulled off their first win of the tournament after two previous draws with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Czech Republic. “Just to get the win was amazing but against the Czech puts it at another level,” she said. “We knew going in that they were top of our pool so for us coming from Canada to beat a team like Czech – we’re ecstatic right now.” Belgium’s women also secured their first points of the tournament with a 5-2 win over Kazakhstan. In the men’s tournament, Namibia made history by recording their first-ever World Cup win, and they did it in comprehensive fashion, beating Kazakhstan 6-2. Captain and goalkeeper DJ Strauss put in a player-of-the-match performance. “I see the ball and I stop it. I can’t really explain it – it’s just hard training after lots of years,” he explained. Speaking about his nation’s first-ever World Cup victory, Strauss added: “We are very proud, and ups to Kazakhstan – they gave us a great match. “For me, I’ve been waiting 12 years to come back here because at the last World Cup [in 2011] it was a shock to us – we didn’t know what to do. A bad hockey experience but the best learning experience we could have had, and 12 years later we are competing at a much higher level.” Meanwhile, Austria made it three wins from three by inflicting a first defeat of the tournament on Belgium. The defending champions were untroubled on their way to a clinical 5-1 victory. The Netherlands also notched up their third straight win, beating New Zealand 12-0, the largest winning margin of the tournament so far. Four of those Dutch goals were scored by man of the match Boris Burkhardt. Earlier in the day, Iran’s Reza Norouzzadeh notched up a second consecutive hattrick in a 10-goal thriller against Australia. Jake Sherren claimed a hattrick of his own, but it was to no avail as his Aussie side went down 6-4. Debutants Argentina were looking to continue their rip-roaring form with a third win in as many days when they took on the Czech Republic. After scoring from a penalty corner with just under three minutes remaining, it looked like they had done just that, only for Josef Trejbal to provide a final twist in the tale, slotting in the equaliser for the Czech Republic with less than 20 seconds on the clock to grab a 3-3 draw. Czech captain Martin Hanus was nevertheless disappointed with the result. “It’s only a point which is disappointing for us, especially after yesterday and Sunday’s game… we need to be more effective up front because that’s a weakness of ours so far, but we are capable of scoring goals so we just need to bring it and then it will be fine,” he said. 7 February 2023 Results Result: Match 13 – men Australia 4 – 6 Iran Player of the match: Behdad Beiranvand (IRI) Umpires: Lee Barron (ENG), Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL) Result: Match 13 – women USA 2 – 2 South Africa Player of the match: Jess O’Connor (RSA) Umpires: Cathy Wright (WAL), Rachel Williams (ENG) Result: Match 14 – men South Africa 2 – 5 USA Player of the match: Jonathan Klages (USA) Umpires: Andres Ortiz (ESP), Emily Carroll (AUS) Result: Match 14 – women Australia 0 – 8 Netherlands Player of the match: Donja Zwinkels (NED) Umpires: Ayden Shrives (RSA), Ornpimol Kittiteerasopon (THA) Result: Match 15 – men Argentina 3 – 3 Czech Republic Player of the match: Lukas Plochy (CZE) Umpires: Lee Barron (ENG), Adam Barry (AUS) Result: Match 15 – women New Zealand 2 – 4 Austria Player of the match: Miriam Gerö (AUT) Umpires: Cathy Wright (WAL), Lyndal Robertson (RSA) Result: Match 16 – men Kazakhstan 2 – 6 Namibia Player of the match: David Strauss (NAM) Umpires: Rachel Williams (ENG), Andres Ortiz (ESP) Result: Match 16 – women Canada 3 – 2 Czech Republic Player of the match: Samantha McCrory (CAN) Umpires: Narongtuch Subboonsong (THA), Ornpimol Kittiteerasopon (THA) Result: Match 17 – men Belgium 1 – 5 Austria Player of the match: Fabian Unterkircher (AUT) Umpires: Ayden Shrives (RSA), Lukasz Zwierzchowski (POL) Result: Match 17 – women Namibia 1 – 2 Ukraine Player of the

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The South African Indoor Hockey Men, powered by Tops at SPAR, were still feeling the effects of a bruising encounter with Czech Republic on Monday night as they returned to the park to take on the USA on Tuesday. Both teams knew a win would give them a wonderful position in lining up for the Quarter-Finals. South Africa got the best possible start when they were awarded a penalty stroke early on. Mustapha Cassiem stood up and fired the ball home superbly past Klages. It was a lead that wouldn’t last long as Klages reacted first to fire home and before the end of the first quarter he had a second and the US had a lead. South Africa had a golden opportunity to pull level as a stroke was awarded again but Klages went the right way and denied the South African hot shot. Mustapha may have been stopped from scoring but he provided the assist as a diving Ryan Julius levelled matters. But once again the South Africans were trailing as Stuart Kantwell was on hand to finish after an Anton van Loggerenberg save. The third quarter was a quarter of few opportunities with the South Africans and Americans cancelling each other out throughout the court. South Africa were chasing the game in the final quarter. And in chasing the game the South Africans were caught out. USA Star Aki Kaeppeler made it 4-2 and when South Africa pulled their keeper Pat Harris made it 5-2 to secure the result for the North Americans and send the South Africans back to the drawing board.   Source: SAHockey.co.za | February 7, 2023

The SPAR South Africa Women’s Hockey team took on USA for the first time since 2015 at the Heartfelt Arena today. Their Pool A encounter was also a chance for either team to get an upper hand in the battle for a quarter final spot The South Africans put in a massive effort last night against the Netherlands and that was evident in the early exchanges as the South Africans were unable to find what they needed. While the South Africans couldn’t raise the pace the Americans were loving the occasion and looking to inspire through 14-year-old Reece D’Ariano. While South Africa had the lion’s share of the possession, they were unable to much with it and USA looked more dangerous on attack. They turned the danger into a lead when Hannah Miller stepped into a pocket of space and fired home past Greyvenstein. With South Africa failing to convert from their penalty corners the score remained 1-0 at the half time break. While that would have been a bad scenario for the hosts, it got worse after the break when D’Ariano picked up the ball on the base line and fired it across goal with Greyvenstein unable to make a save that she would have been disappointed to miss. But the hosts showed South African fighting spirit and came back into the match with a great determination. They found themselves level through Tegan Fourie who showed tremendous tenacity to score her 51st international indoor goal. The game was crying out for a captain’s contribution, and it came from Jess O’Connor. She effected a number of turnovers, forced her way into the circle and on the reverse forced the ball home. Despite a big effort from both teams there would be no winner and the point were shared.   Source: SAHockey.co.za | February 7, 2023