SA Hockey men named for FIH Hockey World Cup

The South African Hockey men have on Friday been announced for the FIH Hockey World Cup taking place in India in January 2023.

The men, who have just earned an invite back to the FIH Hockey Pro League following their success in winning the Inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup, will look to continue the up curve in trajectory at major tournaments.

The team which entered the FIH Hockey Nations Cup as the 6th ranked team out of 8 produced wonderful performance and ultimately captured the hearts of the nation and even further abroad with their exciting front foot hockey. It is no surprise that coach Cheslyn Gie and his selectors have kept the core of that squad together.

Dayaan Cassiem, the player of the tournament at the FIH Hockey Nations Cup, will continue to lead the team, while Keenan Horne and Jethro Eustice provide the most experience.

Gowan Jones, who starred at the Commonwealth Games returns and joins Estiaan Kriek as the two keepers.

There are also recalls for Bili Ntuli, Nic Spooner and Peabo Lembethe from the Commonwealth Games Squad. Coach Cheslyn Gie shared his excitement at leading the squad to the FIH Hockey World Cup in India:

“We have an exciting mix of youth and experience. Several players have taken the opportunities afforded to them this year either in Pro League, Azlan Shah or now in Nations Cup and we are pleased to be able to reward the players who have put their hands up consistently. We know that our pool will be tough, but we are excited to represent our country on the International Stage.”

South Africa are in the daunting looking Pool A with Australia, Argentina, and France, who they defeated for the first time ever in Potchefstroom. 2nd and 3rd place in the pool progress to the crossover stage with the winners progressing to the quarterfinal round.

SQUAD(Caps as of 8 December 2022)

Bili Ntuli 87
Jethro Eustice 166
Brad Sherwood 25
Keenan Horne 101
Connor Beauchamp 32
Mustapha Cassiem 37
Dan Bell 90
Nic Spooner 53
Dayaan Cassiem 65
Peabo Lembethe 60
Estiaan Kriek 26
Ryan Julius 63
Gowan Jones 72
Sam Mvimbi 40
Guy Morgan 6
Sihle Ngubane 22
Jacques van Tonder 11
Tevin Kok 5