Namibia University of Science and Technology’s men’s hockey team made history when they won the C section of the University Sports South Africa (USSA) hockey tournament in Johannesburg on Friday.
It was the first time in 10 years that they had won the title, while they also gained promotion to the B section for next year’s tournament.
Nust won Group C with a total of 12 points after winning four and losing one match, while ETA College came second on 10 points, followed by Sol Plaatje University and Durban University of Technology, both on nine points; Vaal University of Technology on four points; and North West University Mahikeng on zero points.
Nust beat NHU Mahikeng 5-1 in their opening match on 1 July. They got off to a great start when Owen Hatton opened the scoring with a field goal after only two minutes, and when he struck again with another field goal a minute later they were 2-0 ahead after only three minutes.
NHU managed to keep them at bay until halftime and then opened their account from a short corner five minutes into the third quarter, but Nust soon restored their two-goal lead when Tawana Mutapati scored a field goal.
Nust upped their game in the final quarter and two field goals within three minutes by Moses Nauyoma and Matthew Mouton gave them a convincing start to their campaign.
The next day Nust received stiff resistance from Sol Plaatje University from Kimberley, before winning their match 2-1.
After a goalless first quarter, Hatton gave Nust the lead from a short corner early in the second quarter, while a field goal by Gustav Shatambu gave them a 2-0 lead at the half time break.
Sol Plaatje fought back strongly and opened their account with a short corner goal at the end of the third quarter to set up a tense finish, but Nust held out to win the match 2-1.
On 3 July, Nust came up against a strong ETA College side that won a tough encounter by a solitary goal, which came early in the final quarter.
ETA, however, lost 2-1 to Sol Plaatje University the next day and when Nust thumped Vaal University of Technology 4-0, they regained the lead at the top of the log.
Hatton once again struck with two field goals early in the first quarter, to put them 2-0 ahead by half time, while two late goals by Matu Kavikairiua from a short corner and Philippus Magongo with a field goal gave them a comprehensive 4-0 victory.
Nust made sure of winning the title after another convincing display against Vaal University of Technology in their final match on 5 July.
Kavikairiua gave them the lead with a field goal in the first quarter, but Vaal University of Technology equalised just before halftime with a field goal.
Nust stepped up the tempo after the break and a short corner goal by Hatton put them 2-1 ahead by the third quarter, before Magongo sealed a 4-1 victory with two field goals in the final quarter.
With that they won the C division title for the first time, while gaining promotion to the B division for the 2025 tournament.
Hatton finished second on the top goalscorers list with six goals, behind Muzi Sikhakhane of Durban University of Technology on seven, while Magongo finished joint-fourth with three other players on four goals.
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