Local players make elite hockey squads
Durban hockey players are set to take to the astro in an inter-provincial tournament.
THE KwaZulu-Natal Coastal Hockey Association recently announced the members of the senior Raiders and Mynahs men’s and women’s KZN squads who will play in the upcoming Indoor Hockey Inter Provincial Tournaments (IPT).
Both the men’s and the women’s squads taking part in this tough tournament are made up of players from all over KwaZulu-Natal, with a significant number of players originating from Durban North’s Riverside Hockey Club (RHC), currently the men’s and women’s champions.
Of both the KZN Indoor Hockey men’s Raiders and Mynahs teams, ten players are from RHC who will be representing Raiders in tournaments in Durban. The elite list of RHC players include Bruce Grant, Calvin Price, Dan Sibbald, Gareth Mason, Justin Birnie, Kai Petty, Keegan Robinson, Matt Fairweather, Sean Baxter and Tylo Remke.
From the women’s KZN Raiders and Mynahs teams, six players and one coach from RHC make up the squad that will compete in the upcoming Indoor Hockey IPT. The skilled RHC players include Donne Oxenham, Michelle Coogle, Yvonne Roentgen, Amy Visagie, Kylie Oosthuizen and Wendy Snelling. Brett Clay from Riverside Hockey Club will also be leading from the front as coach of the KZN women’s Mynahs team.
Wayne Phillips, chairman of RHC, said: “We are so proud of all our selected players and coaching staff from Riverside Hockey Club who have been selected for both the men’s and ladies’ squads for the upcoming Indoor Hockey IPTs. The outstanding achievement we’re seeing with so many of our members being selected to participate at such a high level of hockey is a wonderful aspirational example for the hundreds of juniors who are about to begin their season with the club. We wish the men’s and ladies’ IPT teams all the best in their training and preparation for the IPT’s and hope they can bring home the silverware!”
Bruce Grant from RHC’s men’s first team who was selected for the KZN men’s squad is eagerly anticipating this year’s tournament. “I am thrilled to be representing KZN and RHC in in the upcoming Indoor Hockey IPT and it’s even better to have so many fellow club players as part of the squad. All our club indoor hockey teams have been working really hard this season to produce some great results and to see so many players selected for KZN is just the cherry on top,” said Grant.
