Hockey heroes denied final after penalty shoot-out

The Mpumalanga Men’s Country District hockey team narrowly lost to Southern Cape by penalty shoot-out in the final of the South African Country District (SACD) tournament in Cape Town last week. Not only did the side bring home the silver medal from the tournament, but seven players were also selected to represent the SACD team.

Alex Gitlin, Burnett van der Walt, Brendon Blignaut, Kevin Botha, Ryan Innes and Shawn Cross will play at the interprovincial tournament in April next year with Kyle Botha being chosen as a non-travelling reserve.

The Mpumalanga side won four out of their five pool games, drawing with eventual winners Southern Cape 0-0. They beat Western Province 3-1 in the semi-finals.

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Manager of the Mpumalanga team, Gus van Niekerk, said he was very proud of the side.

“Coming second and bringing home the silver is the best result that our men’s side has ever achieved, bettering the third we achieved last year,” he said.

“Their discipline and conduct, both on and off the field was exemplary and their achievements phenomenal. I look forward to travelling with the team again next year with the goal to bring home the gold.

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“We have certainly shown that we are a force to be reckoned with in the future,” said van Niekerk.

Pool games
Mpumalanga 5 – Northerns Daisies 0
Mpumalanga 6 – Eastern Gauteng 0
Mpumalanga 1 – Southern Gauteng 0
Mpumalanga 0 – Southern Cape 0
Mpumalanga 3 – KZN Coastals 3

Semi-finals
Mpumalanga 3 – Western Province 1

Final
Mpumalanga 1 – Southern Cape 1 (Southern Cape won the penalty
shoot-out).

Check out the Mpumalanga boys in action in the gallery below. All photographs were taken by Stephen Kelly.