Veterans recalled for shot at Hockey World Cup qualification

AIMING to make up lost ground on the world rankings the South African women’s and men’s teams will look to make their mark in the Hockey World League Semifinals in Johannesburg between 8 and 23 July.

The South African Hockey Association announced both teams for the two-week showcase that will see 20 of the world’s top teams in action at the Wits Hockey Club.

“It is a big event for us in the sense that it is an opportunity to qualify for the World Cup and to play in our home country,” said men’s team coach Fabian Gregory.

“This is the biggest event in South Africa for a number of years, if not ever in my lifetime.”

Gregory named a few stalwarts including Julian Hykes, who will make his return after a two-year hiatus, while other stalwarts Rassie Pieterse, Austin Smith, Jethro Eustice and Owen Mvimbi were also selected for the tournament.

Pool A of the men’s tournament includes reigning Hockey World Cup champions Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Japan and France while South Africa is in pool B where they will face Rio 2016 silver medallists Belgium, Olympic bronze medallists Germany, Ireland and Egypt.

The South African women’s hockey team coach Sheldon Rostron said he opted for an experienced outfit for the 16-day tournament.

“We’ve selected a group that has been around for some time so the experience is quite high while there are some younger players that we want to grow and want to take the team forward,” Rostron said.

The women’s team includes seasoned campaigners such as Nicolene Terblanche, Bernadette Coston, Sulette Damons, Ilse Davids and Shelley Jones (nee Russell).

The women’s team is drawn with reigning Hockey Champions Trophy champions Argentina, the United States, India and Chile in Pool B.

Pool A will see England, who will contain many of the Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallists that represented Great Britain, Rio bronze medallists Germany, Japan, Ireland and Poland.

The matches will be shown live on SuperSport.