North-West University’s men’s hockey players had a perfect opportunity to test their skills against SA’s best when the SA men’s Olympic squad came to Potchefstroom in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics on 23 July.
The SA men’s hockey team played four matches against the NWU invitational side this past week, serving as quality preparation, just a few weeks before the Tokyo Olympics.
The relationship between the NWU and the SA Men’s hockey squad is two-fold – it gives the SA men’s team valuable game time to test themselves and strategise ahead of the showpiece event, while also exposing them to NWU’s top facilities.
The matches were a major learning curve for the NWU hockey men, who had to take on the country’s best. Undeterred, they put in a great effort, showcasing what NWU has to offer in terms of both hockey talent on the Astroturf and the world-class surroundings for hockey in Potchefstroom.
“It was a massive experience for the boys and it was great to learn new stuff. It was a pleasure to play against the SA Olympic team and a great opportunity to prepare them for the Olympics,” stated the NWU hockey player and former Potchefstroom Gimnasium hockey star, Pierre Botma in an interview with NWU Sports.
The NWU director of hockey, Shaun Hulley, was pleased with how the proceedings went and that the NWU could give the SA hockey squad a platform ahead of the Olympics.
“Our facilities really suited the type of preparation the SA Olympic hockey squad needed. The squad was in a bubble as they stayed at the Astro Villas and moved from the Astroturf and back. The SA Olympic teams played against the SA u.21s and the NWU men’s team, which was great for their preparation. We tried to simulate what they wanted to achieve in their preparation for their opponents at the Olympics,” stated Hulley.
“It was a massive learning curve for us and good preparation for SA. It was good to have national teams in Potch; we hope to continue hosting the national team and other international teams for tournaments here,” he added.
“NWU offered some real good counter-attack, and they gave us the preparation we need ahead of the Olympics,” stated SA hockey player, Jethro Eustice.
