NKOSI CUP 2024 | Defending Champions Deliver Champion Performance
Namibia Women, the defending champions of the Nkosi Cup, arrived at the tournament today and produced two nail biting performances to open their account with a full house. In the mens tournament it was South Africa, the defending champions, who produced a remarkable come from behind win against Namibia.
Women – Namibia 2-1 South Africa
In the next enthralling chapter in one of the finest rivalries in world indoor hockey, the two African heavyweights locked horns in the early game on the second day. Tamarie Myburgh scored an early goal for the defending champions who doubled the lead just before half time.
South Africa had a number of opportunites with penalty corners mounting, but they were unable to find the back of the net repeatedly frustrating themselves as well as being frustrated by a very good defensive effort from the Namibians.
Edith Molikoe did score a late goal, but it proved to be a consolation only and it was victory for the Nkosi Cup champions over the African Champions.
Women – Namibia 6-5 Ireland
A double header was always going to be tough for Namibia, but if the game against South Africa showed their defensive stability, the game against Ireland showed their attacking threat.
It was Ireland who struck first through Sarah Patton, but Namibia roared back with three goals in the first quarter from Marika Neethling, Tarmarie Myburgh and Azaylee Philander made it 3-1 at the first break. Kiana Cormack made it 4-1 before nerves were slightly frazzled when Ireland pulled it back to 4-3 as Caroline Spence and Orla Fox penned their names on the scoresheet.
Cormack made it 5-3 before Sarah Patton cut it back to a one goal game again. Philander then stretched it and Spence cut the deficit in half to make 6-5, which would ultimately be the final score. 6 points for Namibia at the half way stage
Men – New Zealand 7-3 Ireland
New Zealand bounced back brilliantly from their opening day defeat in a game that they never trailed, but were constantly tested by a nuggety Irish outfit. Maks Wyndham-Smith saw his early goal cancelled out by Irishman Ross Canning.
In the second quarter Luka Clark re-established the lead but it was Craig Mackay this time that cancelled that and New Zealand did have a half time lead when Ben Allen made it 3-2 just before the break.
Ireland levelled through Mackay to set up a grand stand final quarter. But it was the Black Sticks who came out on top in the final 10 minutes with four unanswered goals. A brace from Isaac Houlbrooke along with goals from Allen and Wyndham-Smith too much for Ireland giving New Zealand the three points.
Men – South Africa 3-2 Namibia
It was a repeat of the Nkosi Cup, Africa Cup & Sultan Nazran Shah Cup finals in the past 12 months when the two World Cup Quarter Finalists faced off.
It was the Namibians who were the better team in the first half. They took advantage of momentary ill-discipline from the hosts early on to lead through Brynn Cleak. They made it 2-0 at the half time break, deservingly so, with Dakota Hansen netting the second.
A much subdued first half for Mustapha Cassiem threatened to kick off with a number of penalty corners, but the South Africans were struggling to convert. Cassiem did manage the opener before seeing a penalty stroke superbly saved. He would double his personal tally and level the game with a superb penalty corner finish to set up a grandstand final five minutes.
And it would be the sensational goalscoring Mustapha that would bring the magic. His hat-trick goal turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead with 3 minutes remaining on the clock. The South Africans would defend well at the end to secure a full house of 6 points after two games.
