While the Steinhoff Maties Women’s hockey team is the defending USSA champions, the Maties Men are looking to set the record straight after an extremely disappointing fifth place in 2014.
The national student tournament is from 29 June to 3 July in Pietermaritzburg.
The Maties Men are very motivated to not only improve on last year’s performance but to win the title this time. Coach Neville Rothman and his troops have been working really hard the past few weeks. “The goal for USSA is simple: Win it!” said Rothman.
“We know we have to improve on last year’s performance and we know we will better that placing as Maties always belongs in the top place of this annual prestigious tournament.”
Maties are in Group A along with multiple defending champions UJ, UKZN and Tuks.
Maties Women are the defending champions. But for coach Jenny King the first step is to make sure her team reaches the semi-finals, because like the men they are in a tough group that includes UJ, Tuks and Varsity College. “To reach the final four is going to be a hard fought battle in it self. Only then reaching the final will be a goal,” said King.
According to King her troops are willing and ready to handle the pressure that comes along with the status of being defending champions. “There is only one way of handling the pressure and that is one game at a time with simple attacking and defensive plans and a huge amount of determination.”
Even though both teams does include many first years, the men and women teams have some very experience players to draw from as well. For some it will be the last USSA so going out with a bang will be a goal.
