South African Women looking optimistic for second fixture against Dutch Hockey Team
The Investec South African Women’s hockey squad is quiet confident about the second competition of the two-match series against the Netherlands, in Arnhem, Holland. The first game between the two legendary teams concluded in a five-all draw.
Shelley Russell lit the lamp twice while her teammate, Sulette Damons, aided with a single notch in the two halves. Kathleen Taylor and Pietie Coetzee also faced moments of glory once each in the draw game.
Assistant Coach of the Investec SA, Phil Estourgie, was of the opinion that the first draw-game was played quite aggressively.
Estourgie, the former Amsterdam-based hockey player, has close relationships with SA Head Coach, Giles Bonnet. Explaining the first match, he stated that the South Africans fought brilliantly and bounced back to draw the game.
He observed, “We had an opportunity to win the game but were rather unluckily denied in the final two minutes”.
He commented that the blue-turf experience for the players was great, as this will be the AstroTurf of the pitches at the 2012 Olympic Games.
It is vital to mention here that this will be the first version of the Olympics that will not be played on the traditional green turfs.
He maintained that the South African strikers have the ability to accomplish back to back attacks against the opposite side. It was proved in the first game where all the goals from the African side were scored from the field, he added.
The coach termed the game an enthralling fixture, saying that the duo battled fabulously in the previous encounter.
He commented, “There was a goal that was saved on the line by SA captain Marsha Marescia, but the goal was allowed in the end. Shelley Russell, freshly back from injury, did well to score the two and the girls are really looking forward to a second crack
at the Dutch today”.
The assistant coach continued that South Africa’s inane mistakes helped the Dutch squad in marking retaliating goals.
He, however, applauded South Africa’s game build-up, explaining that the players carried out the most dangerous strikes in the game.
After drawing at five-all, the Investec will play the second game of the two-match series ahead of the FIH Champions Challenge I, set to be played from November 26 to December 4, 2011, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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