Coetzee may return for Belgium series
With the Investec South Africa women’s hockey team having wrapped up the Investec Tri-Nations Series against Belgium and Ireland with one round to go, the squad’s focus now turns towards the two-test series against Belgium that takes place at Randburg Hockey Stadium at 2pm CAT (SA, GMT+2) on Saturday and 11am on Sunday.
Head coach Giles Bonnet’s team put on their best display of the series in the 5-3 victory over Belgium that clinched the Tri-Nations title at Randburg Wednesday night. And they did so without 33-year-old world record goalscorer Pietie Coetzee (231 goals in 234 test matches).
Coetzee has been rested for the last two matches and her possible inclusion in the team on Saturday and Sunday will not help the Belgians’ cause.
Against Belgium on Wednesday, South Africa’s search for the perfect final pass, the choices they make and the angles they are running, resulted in the forwards and midfielders getting in their shots at goal from the best positions in the strike zone. And SA’s three goals from eight penalty corners reflected a world-class conversion rate.
At times, Belgium’s tactic of closing down the ball carrier paid dividends, but such was the pressure that SA exerted, it wasn’t an overriding factor in the end result. Not that Belgium were never in the match. They led for half of the game, while SA were admirable in their strong finish that took the score from 3-3 to 5-3 in the last 10 minutes.
Belgium play Ireland at 7 pm tonight in the last Tri-Nations round before the Irish lasses fly back to the Emerald Isle. And with the winners already decided, entrance is free.
SA ended with eight log points from their four matches with a positive goal difference of three, while Belgium have four points and Ireland are on one point, both from three matches. Ireland have a GD of minus two and Belgium are on minus one, so in the race for second place Ireland must win while Belgium need only draw.