Tuks women’s water polo team goes for gold at USSA tournament this year
After four consecutive silver medals, the captain of Tuks' women's water polo team believes that it is time to take their place on that one step higher on the podium this year.
The Tuks women’s water polo team will look for the proverbial Midas Touch when they dive into the pool during the upcoming (3-6 December) USSA Tournament in East London.
The Tuks team have a good reason to be motivated. For the past four years, Tuks has been the runners-up, losing each time against Maties in the final.
According to the team’s captain, Maxine Hannan, winning that first silver four years ago was remarkable, as Tuks struggled in the tournament in previous years.
“We have won silver at USSA’s for four years in a row now. It is really getting irritating. Last year, we beat Maties in the pool game only to lose against them in the final. So, I am hoping that this time round, we bring back the gold. Our goal now would be to focus on our own game. We must do what we are good at and keep our opponents from dictating the play. It all boils down to executing the small things to perfection. If we do, we will be competitive,” Hannan explained during a recent interview.
Hannan, who is doing her master’s in human physiology, has played in all four finals, captaining Tuks in the last two. Every time she plays, only one thing matters: to get Tuks to win.
Photo: Supplied
Her heroics have not gone unnoticed. She is the official reserve for the South African women’s team selected to play in the World Cup. Last year, she was a part of the South African beach water polo team, which won a bronze medal at the World Aquatics Water Polo Qualification Tournament in Egypt.
As a captain, Hannan prides herself on bringing positivity to the team.
“During a game, I would celebrate the things we do right. That rubs off on my teammates and motivates them to put their bodies even more on the line. I am also a good communicator, letting the players know what the coach expects. I certainly don’t believe in micro-managing my teammates. Every player should take responsibility for what happens. I only try to assert myself during the pregame and post-game discussions,” she remarked.
Hannan tips Varsity College and Ikeys as the two teams who might cause an upset.
The Tuks women’s team are Tia Caswell, Kelly Forde, Megan Foster, Lauren Fox, Max Hannan, Shakira January, Sinelithemba Mbatha, Ané Müller, Ashley Richardson, Ilse Southey, Jenna Tarr, Wendy-Mae Turner and Jenna Weppelman.
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