17 January 2014
Cape Town is set to stage a bumper crop of top quality hockey test matches, with the Investec South Africa women’s team taking on world number one The Netherlands, Australia, and Belgium in The Hartleyvale Summer Series from 18 January to 3 February.
The Hartleyvale Hockey Stadium in Observatory will be home to all 11 internationals, with South Africa playing two tests against the Dutch, three against Australia, and six against Belgium.
Rankings
Apart from the number one ranked Dutch, Australia is ranked fourth in the world, just four points behind third-placed England. South Africa is in 11th place and Belgium is ranked 12th.
With the World Cup in The Hague, beginning at the end of May, South Africa’s head coach Giles Bonnet will not only be able to test his players in 11 intense matches, he will also be able to provide the extended South African squad with an opportunity to train together under the coaching staff in Cape Town.
Squad
Bonnet has named a squad of 20 players for the five tests against The Netherlands and Australia: Marcelle Keet, Quanita Bobbs, Kelly Madsen, Sulette Damons, Bernie Coston, Marsha Cox, Pietie Coetzee, Shelley Russell, Tarryn Bright, Lilian du Plessis, Kathleen Taylor, Phume Mbande, Hanli Hattingh, Illse Davids, Celia Evans, Lisa Deetlefs, Dirkie Chamberlain, Erin Hunter, Sammy Prost and Anelle van Deventer.
A number of squad members will also train in Cape Town and be up for selection for the six-match Belgium series, namely: Toni Marks, Kaila Flemming, Tarryn Glasby, Luche Klaasen, Nicolene Terblanche, Lenise Marais.
In addition, Bonnet named six other players, who would join the group for a still-to- be-announced test series in Johannesburg next month, including Carmen Smith, Christine Roos, Tanya Brits, Candice Manuel, Izelle Lategan, and Jade Mayne.
Goalkeeper Sanani Mangisa, who has been sidelined by injury, was not considered for selection.
FIXTURES
- Sat, 18 Jan: vs The Netherlands (16:00)
- Mon, 20 Jan: vs The Netherlands (19:00)
- Wed, 22 Jan: vs Australia (19:00)
- Fri, 24 Jan: vs Australia (19:00)
- Sat, 25 Jan: vs Australia (16:00)
- Sun, 26 Jan: vs Belgium (16:00)
- Tue, 28 Jan: vs Belgium (20:00)
- Wed, 29 Jan: vs Belgium (19:00)
- Fri, 31 Jan: vs Belgium (19:00)
- Sun, 2 Feb: vs Belgium (16:00)
- Mon, 3 Feb: vs Belgium (19:00)
A Tuffy Western Province Invitation men’s team will play the highly regarded Dutch Hoofdklasse side Amsterdam HC on 28 January at 18:00 and on 30 January at 19:00.
SAinfo reporter
