Namibia sweep into Nkosi Cup final

Namibia’s men’s indoor hockey team booked their place in the final of the Nkosi Cup after a brilliant 5-2 victory against SA on Sunday afternoon and a 6-2 victory against USA a few hours later. 

The wins put Namibia on top of the log on nine points from four matches, and they will now meet second-placed SA (6 points) in the final, who cannot becaught by the USA (0 points) anymore.

In a scintillating display of action-packed hockey, Namibia came out firing against SA and took the lead through a short corner goal by Fagan Hansen. 

Hansen scored his second in near-identical style at the start of the second quarter and after some frantic attacks by both sides, Namibia went 3-0 ahead just before halftime when Ernest Jacobs scored from another short corner. 

SA desperately tried to come back and won several short corners in the final stages, but Namibian keeper Richter van Rooyen brought off some great saves and Namibia went 4-0 ahead when Hansen completed his hattrick in the third quarter. 

SA finally opened their account when Dayaan Cassiem scored with a backstick shot in the final quarter, but Namibia immediately struck back with an Owen Hatton field goal to go 5-1 ahead. 

Namibia defended superbly in the final stages and although Mustapha Cassiem added a late short corner goal, it was too little too late as Namibia heldon for a great victory. 

In their opening match against the USA on Friday evening, Namibia took an early lead through a field goal by Owen Hatton, but USA drew level when Aki Kaeppeler scored from a short corner. 

Namibia, however, regained the lead just before the end of the first quarter when Hatton was fouled in the box and Liam Hermanus made no mistake from the penalty spot. 

Namibia went 3-1 ahead early in the third quarter after Hermanus finished off a great counter-attack initiated by Hatton, while Fagan Hansen stretched their lead further when he put away a loose ball in the box to put them 4-1 ahead going into the final quarter. 

In a frantic final quarter, the USA struck back with a field goal by Lasse Norbereit, but JP Britz stretched Namibia’s lead to 5-2 with a great shot high into the net. 

Pat Harris pulled a field goal back for the USA but it was not enough as Namibia won the match 5-3 with Hatton winning the player of the match award.

Their first match against South Africa on Saturday was another thriller, as both teams attacked from the start, with Mustaphaa Cassiem looking dangerous for SA, while Liam Hermanus had a short corner shot cleared off the line. 

Hatton put Namibia ahead, scoring a field goal from a tight angle early in the third quarter, but SA immediately equalised when Cassiem scored from a short corner. 

Namibia regained the lead when Percy Barthram finished off a sweeping counterattack initiated by Nico Neethling, and they went 3-1 ahead with a Fagan Hansen field goal by the end of the third quarter. 

South Africa, however, fought back strongly and drew level after two goals in two minutes by Cassiem and Julius, and then took a 4-3 lead after a great backstick goal by Julius. 

Namibia had a chance to equalise when they won a short corner in the final stages, but Hermanus’ shot went wide.

South Africa, meanwhile, went to the top of the log on six points after an impressive 11-5 victory against the USA on Saturday night, with Cassiem and Dal Langford both scoring hattricks. 

Namibia’s women were also lying second behind South Africa, with Ireland in third place, after the first round of matches. 

On Saturday afternoon they beat Ireland 5-3 after a great performance by Kiana Cormack. 

Cormack, who only recently returned to the team after a long absence, scored four of Namibia’s goals, including three trademark shots from short corners. 

She opened the scoring at the end of the first quarter, and although Ireland equalised through Sarah Patton, a great solo goal by Cormack followed by another short corner goal put Namibia 3-1 ahead by halftime. 

Ireland rallied strongly in the second half with goals by Orla Patton and Mikayla Power, but another Cormack short corner goal and a field goal by Azaylee Philander gave them the victory. 

South Africa also beat Ireland 5-4, and then went to the top of the log after beating Namibia 3-1 on Saturday evening. 

Kayla de Waal gave SA the lead with a field goal midway through the first quarter but Namibia immediately struck back with a great field goal by Cormack, scoring from a narrow angle. 

Both sides had penalties saved by the opposing keepers Petro Stoffberg of Namibia and Sarah Paget of SA, before Daniela De Oliviera put SA ahead with a short corner goal, while De Waal sealed a 3-1 win with a late field goal. 

That put SA on top of the log on six points, followed by Namibia on three and Ireland on zero points, with one round of group matches remaining.