English: No less than 12 players from Steinhoff Maties Hockey have been chosen to play for South Africa in international practice matches.
Various international teams are currently in South Africa for training camps. The Dutch, Irish, Belgium and Chile will play a series of matches at Hartleyvale and Stellenbosch. The Dutch men’s team is staying at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport and will play three matches at the Maties astro against Ireland and Belgium.
The South African women’s team will be playing against Belgium and Chile. The Maties in the squad are Hanli Hattingh, Illse Davids, Erin Hunter, Quanita Bobbs and Jade Mayne. The SA men will come up against the Netherlands, Ierland and Belgium. Jacques le Roux, Daniel Bell, Dylan Swanepoel, Marc Fourie, Pierre de Voux, Shannon Boucher and Keenan Horne will present Maties.
Early in January Bell, Boucher, Horne and Fourie made their debut for South Africa in the series in Austria played in Durban. “It was a phenomenal experience walking onto the field for my first International cap against Austria. I constantly had to pinch myself to make sure that it was real,” said Boucher.
“Singing the South African National anthem was rather overwhelming and emotional, at that point I realised that all my hard work and sacrifice had finally paid off. The Lord had answered the desires of my heart. Scoring my first international goal was also a special occasion. Having performed well at the Durban Series I have been given the opportunity to continue learning, and living my dream of playing for South Africa. I look forward to a hard 10 days on the field, with a few more goal celebrations.”
Swanepoel played last for SA at the World Cup. “I’m really excited to be back in the team after a six month break where I focused on my studies. It’s going to be really awesome to be playing for my country again especially in front of a home crowd in Cape Town with my friends and family there. I think the series is going to be really tough. We are playing against well-prepared opposition. Having said that, we welcome the competition with open arms and we are here to compete and keep learning and growing as a national squad.”
The Dutch played in the final of the World Cup last year.
Schedule at Maties Astro: Monday, 26 January @ 15:00 – Netherlands v Belgium; Wednesday, 28 January @ 15:00 – Netherlands v Ireland; Thursday, 29 January @ 18:00 Netherlands v Ierland.
Afrikaans: Niks minder nie as 12 spelers van Steinhoff Maties Hokkie is gekies om in internasionale oefenwedstryde vir Suid-Afrika te speel.
Verskeie internasionale spanne hou tans hul oefenkampe in Suid-Afrika. Nederland, Ierland, Belgie en Chili speel ‘n reeks oefenwedstryde op Hartleyvale en in Stellenbosch. Die Nederlanders is tans in Stellenbosch en bly by die Stellenbosch Akademie vir Sport. Hulle gaan ook drie wedstryde op die Maties astro speel.
Die Suid-Afrikaanse vroue-span speel teen Belgie en Chili. Die Maties in die groep is Hanli Hattingh, Illse Davids, Erin Hunter, Quanita Bobbs en Jade Mayne. Die SA manspan kom te staan teen Nederland, Ierland en Belgie. Jacques le Roux, Daniel Bell, Dylan Swanepoel, Marc Fourie, Pierre de Voux, Shannon Boucher en Keenan Horne verteenwoordig Maties in die groep.
Vroeg in Januarie het Bell, Boucher, Horne en Fourie hul debuut vir Suid-Afrika gemaak in ‘n reeks teen Oostenryk in Durban. “Dit was ‘n onbeskryflikke ervaring om op die veld te loop vir my eerste internasionale wedstryd. Ek moes myself die heeltyd knyp om seker te maak dit is werklik! Dit was nogal oorweldigend om die Volkslied te sing. Ek was baie emosioneel. Dit was toe dat ek besef het, dat al my harde werk en opofferinge die moeitewerd was. God het my hartsbegeertes beantwoord. Om my eerste doel aan te teken was ook baie spesiaal,” het Boucher vertel.
Swanepoel het laas met die Wereldbeker-toernooi vir SA gespeel. “Ek is baie opgewonde om na ‘n breek van ses maande weens studieverpligtinge weer by die span te wees. Dit gaan wonderlik wees om voor familie en vriende vir my land te speel. Ek dink die reeks gaan uitdagend wees, want die spanne teen wie ons speel is goed voorbereid. Ons verwelkom die kompetisie egter met ope arms. Ons is hier om mededingend te wees, te leer en te groei as groep.”
Nederland het verlede jaar in die eindstryd van die Wereldbeker-toernooi gespeel.
Bepalings vir Maties astro Maandag, 26 Januarie om 15:00 – Nederland t Belgie; Woensdag, 28 Januarie om 15:00 – Nederland t Ierland; Donderdag, 29 Januarie om 18:00 Nederland t Ierland.