South Africa’s national women’s hockey side ended their World Cup campaign in London on Saturday, by picking up their first and only point of the tournament, writes MARK ETHERIDGE.
After losing their first two Pool C games against Germany (3-1) and Spain (7-1) they needed a big win against Argentina to edge above the Spaniards.
In the end, they fought their way to a 1-1 draw against the South Americans.
Argentina were the third-ranked side at the start of the World Cup.
The Argentinians came out firing from all angles and Vitality Player of the Match Phumelela Mbande pulled out all the stops to keep them at bay.
But it was South Africa who opened the scoring against the run of play with just seconds left of the first half. Lilian du Plessis unlocked the Argentinian defence with a great pass and Jade Mayne struck the ball down into the ground and it snuck past the Argentinian keeper.
The second half was much of the same before Argentina finally found the equaliser in the third quarter as Maria Granatto turned a bouncing cross home into the SA goal in the 47th minute.
Such was the Argentine dominance that statistics show that they had 26 shots and 13 penalty corners in contrast to South Africa’s two shots.
Speaking after his team’s defeat, coach Sheldon Rostron told Team SA: ‘Our team finally played with the belief and pride that we showed during the World League.
‘We left it too late and started peaking too late in our pool stages.
‘Every game we have grown and improved and this will remain the way unless we spend more time together and play more internationals.’
Indeed, Rostron pained a bleak picture looking ahead. ‘As a team that represents the country we were underprepared and it’s sad we have not done more to ensure a better programme.
‘We need to be able to give the youth coming through a better chance. They are the future and will be the success of SA hockey but if we let things go on… we will remain slipping down a slippery slope.’
As for the players, they put on a brave face. Said striker Candice Manuel: ‘Today was a phenomenal display by the team. We really showed true SA character and I’m super proud to be a part of this team.
‘Sure, it sucks that we still didn’t make it through to the next round. But we really have learnt a lot and gained some experience, which we can now take home with us an work on.’
Fellow player, Kristen Paton, playing her first World Cup event, also praised the spirit of the side.
‘Spain was really tough for us all. Having said that we really pulled together as a team today and were all on the same page in all aspects, that much was evident on the field.
‘We started really well and were able to keep them at bay in the first half while having some threatening build-up and attacks and our break came with a very opportunistic goal.
‘From then on there was clear momentum shift and the saying “You create your own luck” was clear today. We defended well and make crucial game-changing saves in the goal.
‘It felt really good to get under their skins and you could feel it on the field, things that normally work for them weren’t coming off and that was because we collectively and on a one-versus-one basis did really well today.’
About her World Cup experience (it was also her first Commonwealth Games in Australia three months ago) she said: ‘It’s been an absolute privilege to be here. It’s also been a very tough learning experience.
‘For that, I’m so grateful. I’ve grown more in the last two weeks than I have in a long time and finishing on the note that we did today makes me really proud’
Photo: South Africa celebrating their goal against Argentina, by FIH