Varsity Hockey big learning curve for Steinhoff Maties Women : 2015-05-28
Quanita Bobbs
Not being able to successfully defend their Varsity Hockey title is a big disappointment for the players of the Steinhoff Maties Women’s Hockey team, but coach Jenny King is already looking forward to the future.
Maties lost in the semi-final of the Varsity Hockey tournament to Kovsies on Monday night in Johannesburg. Maties finished fourth overall in this year’s tournament. Kovsies will play against UJ in the final. “The team hates loosing, but I am not particularly disappointed in the semi-final result as the team played top hockey, the Kovsies are far more experienced and a better team than us, so a great performance on the night sets us in good stead for our USSA preparations. We have also identified areas we need to improve in order to match their strengths and this we will do over the next 50 days,” said King.
According to King the big difference between the two teams – Maties and Kovsies – was experience. “Kovsies are at the end of a five-year cycle and the experience of their players showed. Maties was a relatively inexperienced side (hence inconsistent performances) – we had 8 first years. We will have to work at sustaining top performances over eight matches,” said King.
The second weekend of Varsity Hockey was a rollercoaster ride of performances from Maties. “The team’s performances were inconsistent with regards to level of play and focus, this we will have to address through the league matches ahead. However the team played their best hockey when under pressure to perform and the tournament has given us a good idea of where we lie nationally with regards to University Sport.”
The next big challenge for Maties will be the national students tournament where they are also the defending champions. The tournament will be held in Pietermaritzburg from 29 June to 3 July 2015.
AFRIKAANS
Varsity Hokkie groot leerkurwe vir Steinhoff Maties Vroue
Om nie hul Varsity Hokkie-titel suksesvol verdedig nie, was ‘n groot teleurstelling vir die spelers van die Steinhoff Maties Vroue-hokkiespan, maar afrigter, Jenny King is reeds besig om te fokus op die toekoms.
Maties het in die halfeindronde van die toernooi teen Kovsies verloor. Die Vrystaters speel nou teen UJ in die eindstryd. “Die span haat om te verloor, maar ek is nie besonder teleurgesteld in die uitslag nie. Die span het goeie hokkie speel. Die Kovsies is baie meer ervare en ‘n beter span as ons. Ek is positief met die oog op USSA. Daar is natuurlik areas waar ons moet verbeter en daarop sal ons fokus oor die volgende 50 dae,” het King vertel.
Volgens King was die groot verskil tussen die twee spanne – Maties en Kovsies – ervaring. “Kovsies is aan die einde van ‘n vyf-jaar siklus en die ervaring van hul spelers het gewys. Maties is ‘n relatiewe onervare span – ons het 8 eerste jaars. Ons sal moet werk aan die handhawing van top prestasies oor agt wedstryde.”
Die tweede naweek van Varsity Hockey was ‘n wipplank-rit van vertonings vir Maties. “Die span se vertonings was nie konsekwent nie met betrekking tot vlak van die spel en fokus, dit sal ons moet aanspreek deur die ligawedstryde wat voorlê. Maar die span het hul beste hokkie gespeel toe hulle onderdruk was. Die toernooi het ons ‘n goeie idee gegee van waar ons nasionaal is met betrekking tot Universiteit Sport.”
Die volgende groot uitdaging vir Maties sal die nasionale studente-toernooi waar hulle is ook die verdedigende kampioene is. Die toernooi is in Pietermaritzburg van 29 Junie tot 3 Julie 2015.