The Women’s Indoor Hockey team pipped Malaysia before thrashing New Zealand on the first day of the Tuanku Zara Cup in Ipoh, Malaysia.
A titanic battle unfolded in the opening game against the hosts, but Malikah Hamza openend the scoring for South Africa before Kelsey Swanepoel doubled their lead.
DEBUT!
This morning in Malaysia in the opening game of the Tuanku Zara Cup, 7 new players earned their debut cap for the SA Womens Indoor Hockey team in a 3-2 win over the hosts!
Congratulations to all 7 and good luck your international career ahead. pic.twitter.com/7aqIA8hXAL
— SA Hockey (@SA_Hockey) November 7, 2023
Malaysia equalised before the break, but merely a minute into the third quarter, Tegan Fourie scored her 56th international goal to reestablish South Africa’s two-goal lead. A consolation goal from Malaysia was too little too late as South Africa finished 3-2 victors.
In their second and final match of the opening day, South Africa came out guns blazing against New Zealand, scoring twice in the first quarter courtesy of goals from Kayla de Waal and Cailynn den Bakker.
Goals from Emily Macquet and Tegan Fourie ensured it was 4-0 at the break, before a third-quarter brace from Hamza and goals from Fourie and De Waal capped a dominant performance by South Africa.
2 out of 2 for the SA Womens Indoor Hockey side on day 1 of the Tuanku Zara Cup sees us sitting top of the table.
The team are back in action on Thursday! https://t.co/TvtBO4Ghaf (with highights)#HockeyInvites pic.twitter.com/QCtPpKYd6t
— SA Hockey (@SA_Hockey) November 7, 2023
South Africa are next in action against Namibia and Australia on Thursday.