By JONATHAN COOK
The South African Hockey Association released the names Thursday of the South Africa men’s hockey team that will do battle in the World League semi-finals, which take place from June 29 to July 7 in Johor Bahru, Malaysia.
The SA team will be captained by Western Province’s Austin Smith, the Mugg & Bean Player of the Series in South Africa’s 3-0 triumph over Malaysia in the four Test matches that ended at a packed Randburg Hockey Stadium on Tuesday.
Smith’s WP team-mate Rhett Halkett is vice-captain in a team of 18 that includes seven players from Southern Gauteng, five from WP, four from KZN Coastal Raiders and two from Northern Blues.
The team has London 2012 Olympians in Jonty Robinson, Clint Panther, Taine Paton and Wade Paton, Tim Drummond, Rassie Pieterse, Lance Louw, Halkett, Smith, Julian Hykes and Lloyd Norris-Jones.
SA head coach Charlie Pereira said that choosing the final 18 from the talent available was extremely tough.
“There were lads who came very close but as always somebody is going to miss out,” said Pereira.
The coach said practice games in Malaysia were in the process of being arranged and at this stage the possibilities included Argentina, Japan and Malaysia U21.
World number 12 South Africa fly out to Malaysia on June 20 and Pereira said the lads would have a week to acclimatise before the tournament got under way.
In Pool B, SA meet world number four England on June 29, world number 13 Malaysia on June 30 and world number five Pakistan on July 2. All the SA matches start at 3 pm (SA time).
The teams in Pool A are world number one Germany, world number eight Korea, world number 10 Argentina and world number 16 Japan.
SOUTH AFRICA
Goalkeepers: Rassie Pieterse (Southern Gauteng), Gowan Jones (KZN Coastal Raiders).
Defenders: Austin Smith (capt, Western Province), Francois Pretorius (Northern Blues), Rhett Halkett (vice-capt, WP), Lance Louw (SG), Jethro Eustice (SG).
Midfielders: Jonty Robinson (NB), Clint Panther (SG), Wade Paton (KCR), Tim Drummond (KCR), Nick Gonsalves (SG), Taine Paton (KCR).
Strikers: Julian Hykes (SG), Craig Haley (WP), Pierre de Voux (WP), Miguel da Graca (SG), Lloyd Norris-Jones (WP).
Team staff - Charlie Pereira (Head Coach), Bartel Berkhout (Technical Advisor), Pierre le Roux (Trainer), Moabi Malebye (Trainer/Video Analyst), Robin van Ginkel (Conditioning Coach), Megyn Robertson (Physiotherapist), Martin van Staden (Manager), Jamie Kroukamp (Video Analyst).
