Netherlands welcome SA to the FIH Pro League with a big result

South Africa started their historic adventure at the FIH Pro league at the North West University in Potchefstroom on Tuesday against a Dutch side they have not beaten in over 20 years. It was a welcome sight for South African fans across the globe as the Men formed part of the esteemed and highly pedigreed FIH Pro League for the first time.

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South Africa, missing several players including captain Tim Drummond and short corner hot shot Matt Guise-Brown due to work commitments, were also without the like of Sam Mvimbi and Tevin Kok who are recovering from injury. It was however an opportunity for the South Africans to give a debut to Connor Beauchamp and Clayton Saker. A moment they will never forget.

If they were hoping for a red-carpet welcome to the Pro League, they would be disappointed as the Dutch in the changed strip of blue started with their foot on the pedal and held a significant advantage in the possession stakes in the opening exchanges. The early domination from the visitors, and the pace at which they operated at was rewarded with a penalty stroke as shot struck Tyson Dlungwana on the line. Although Siya Nolutshungu went the right way it was a superbly executed stroke by Tim Swaen to give the Dutch a 1 goal lead.

It could very well have been two when Netherlands earned their first penalty corner and Jip Jannsen ripped the ball into the post and the rebound was fired wide. The South Africans fashioned half a chance through Dayaan Cassiem, but the score remained 1-0 at the break.

In the second quarter South Africa started to gain a little bit more of the ball and the possession was a bit more evenly contested and despite Netherlands having two early penalty corners it was South Africa that pulled level. Great work down the side from Mustapha Cassiem saw a ball fired across and national vice-captain Bili Ntuli finished superbly.

It was Netherlands who landed the next punch with a sublime piece of control on the baseline from Koen Bijen which was crossed to Van Damme who finished past Estiaan Kriek superbly. It was a quick-fire double for the Dutch as Derck de Vilder hit a powerful tomahawk strike that left Kriek with little chance. The Dutch were delighted to have stolen into a two-goal lead.

South Africa won their first penalty corner of the game late into the second quarter but the low drag flick from Dan Bell was superbly saved by Pirmin Blaak and the Dutch took advantage of this by tearing up the other end and winning their own PC which was superbly finished off the rebound by van Dam. 4-1 the halftime score.

The second half started in fantastic fashion for the Dutch who netted their fifth inside fifteen seconds through Jorrit Croon. For many of the young South Africans there were lessons being taught by the superb Dutch side.

South Africa thought they would pull one back, but Blaak was again on hand to deny Mustapha Cassiem, with Siya Nolutshungu joining Blaak in the fine saves club just seconds later. The Dutch were controlling possession with the pedigree so often associated with them, while South Africa were missing a couple of half chances to establish a foot hold back into the game. It remained 5-1 wat the end of the third quarter.

South Africa started the final quarter exactly as they started the third. Conceding in the opening 15 seconds, when Dan Bell took down the attacker and Janssen stepped up to finish from the stroke with a venomous strike. It got worse for the South Africans as the Dutch added a 7th through Swaen with a penalty corner strike through Estiaan Kriek.

The Netherlands were consistent in ramping home their advantage and put the foot on the pedal in adding an eighth through Koen Bijn and a 9th through Brinkmann with time still remaining. Enough time to be awarded a third penalty stroke of the night, but this time Kriek made a superb save to deny the visitors.

They would however find the 10th goal with an absolutely sublime finish Timjen Reyenga, his first for his country. The lesson was getting even harder for the hosts as half chances were quickly extinguished and replaced by goals on the other end. It was an all round dominant display for the Dutch who added the cherry to the top with another late goal from Janssen.

It was a strong reminder that South Africa have a long way to close the gap on the top nations in the world and the team will definitely be looking to improve over the course of the two weeks. On thing was for certain, the FIH Pro League is for the Elite and its where we aspire to be.

FIH Pro League Result – 8 February 2022

South Africa 1 (Ntuli 20’)

Netherlands 11 (Swaen 7’, Brinkman 26’, de Vilder 27’, van Dam 30’, Croon 31’, Janssen 46’, Swaen 47’, Biejn 49’, Brinkmann 51’, Reyenga 54’ & Janssen 57’ )

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FIH PRO LEAGUE BROADCAST DETAILS

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WEDNESDAY 09, FEB

18:00 - South Africa v India
SS Variety 2, SS Variety 2 Africa

20:00 - France v Netherlands
SS Variety 2, SS Variety 2 Africa

SATURDAY 12, FEB

18:00 - France v India
SS Variety 4

20:00 - South Africa v Netherlands
SS Variety 4, SS Variety 4 Africa

SUNDAY 13, FEB

18:00 - South Africa v India
SS Variety 2, SS Variety 2 Africa