Gauteng East Jaguars ladies clinch U23 title at IPT
They beat Southern Gauteng 4-3 in the final.
The Gauteng East Jaguars U23 ladies delivered a golden performance, clinching the interprovincial action hockey title with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Southern Gauteng in a high-octane final at the Benoni Action Sport Arena on August 30.
In front of an energetic crowd, the Jaguars displayed composure and fighting spirit to topple the defending champions, who had dominated the past two editions of the tournament.
The win not only secured the coveted gold medal but also underlined Gauteng East’s rising status as a force in action hockey.
Captain Micaela van Dyk expressed pride after leading the ladies to the title, lauding the team for their camaraderie and teamwork.
“We wouldn’t have won it if it were not for our commitment and teamwork. I’m really happy for my teammates that their hard work paid off. We got off to a difficult start, but the more we played, the better we got as a team. It feels great winning this medal,” she said.
Reflecting on their final match against Southern Gauteng, Van Dyk explained they were confident going into the game because of their build-up.
“We knew we would win this game because we trusted each other. We struggled at the start, but we backed ourselves. After scoring the first goal, we knew we would be alright.”
Team manager Chincia Beetge said she’s proud of the team.
“They worked hard for this. We worked hard as a team – from the training to this competition. I’ve lost my voice from all the shouting. The emotions when watching this game were beyond anything you can imagine,” said Beetge.
The team’s Dante Gouws clinched the women’s U23 MVP.
The tournament, featuring 39 teams from seven provinces, started on August 27 and concluded with some pulsating action on the final day, three days later.
The Gauteng East ladies’ U21 clinched a silver medal after narrowly losing 3-2 to Northern Gauteng. The team’s Zeane Oberholzer was named the Roku Sponsors Player of the Tournament.
The U23 men’s team finished third, goalkeeper Reece Henderson-Mans was named Keeper of the Tournament, and the Jaguars’ over-30 ladies’ team were fourth after losing their third-place playoff against Southern Gauteng in extra time.
The men’s open team contested the third-place play-off with Western Province. They lost 2-1 to finish fourth.
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