Dec 2, 2025

South Africa began their FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup campaign with a confident four one victory over Austria in their opening match. It is the nations ninth appearance at the event and their first ever meeting with Austria at this level which added an extra layer of anticipation to the start of the tournament.

With England and China also in the pool both teams understood how important a positive start would be. South Africa settled quickly when Leah du Plessis ran onto a brilliant through ball showed wonderful patience to round the keeper and calmly rolled the ball into the back of the net. The South African Olympians Mokoena Augousti and Isaacs were in complete control of the tempo and looked dangerous throughout.

Ntsopa Mokoena then produced a moment of total composure as she doubled the lead after being given far too much space. She picked her spot and finished with confidence. Austria pulled one back through their experienced captain Katharina Proksch just before the break to keep the contest alive.

The second half asked more of the South Africans as they collected two green cards and a yellow which meant long periods of playing with fewer numbers. Even so they found the next big moment. Du Plessis stepped up again with a superb penalty corner strike that rattled into the backboard to extend the lead.

In the final quarter South Africa completed the remaining time on the yellow card and almost immediately created another opportunity. Augousti slipped a sublime ball through to Mokoena whose first shot was brilliantly saved but she reacted instantly and hammered the rebound home on the reverse side.

It was a composed and impressive start for the young South Africans who will now turn their attention to England in forty eight hours as the pool begins to take shape.

Source: SAHockey.co.za