Senior Inter-provincial Tournament gets underway
The year's senior Inter-Provincial Tournament braces for action galore as teams descend to the Astro Turf of the University of the Free State.
Hockey sticks will clash as battle lines are crossed at the University of the Free State during the Southern Gauteng leg of the 2019 Senior Inter-provincial Tournament from August 26 to 31.
Also read: Budweiser announces sponsorship of two of the biggest football leagues
A total of 644 promising hockey stars, all adorned in the various teams’ colours, will run onto the field armed with only a hockey stick for a week of sporting action. The event will showcase an array of these hard-hitters, a large pool of which are already backed by previous or current national team representation.
Primed to make a name for herself among the hoard, is Wits’ Emma Bone, who will stride out in the colours of the Southern Gauteng Nuggets Women. Bone, a defender in Wits Hockey, said she is eager to justify her selection, particularly as it will be her first time competing at this level. The defender is under no illusion of the difficult task that lies ahead as her team comes up against some of the best university and regional hockey sides in the country.
“I am very excited to have been selected to represent Nuggets Women in this tournament as it will be my first time participating in the ladies’ section. My position does bring a bit of pressure as this is the team’s last line of defence. If a crucial mistake is made here the opposition could score a goal and with it, gain a lead. This is why it is imperative to excel at all times,” Bone stated.
Also, important to the Southern Gauteng Witwatersrand Women’s cause will be the experience of Mandisa Sigudla, a pioneering hockey player who has developed a knack for winning.The defender played for the u-21 Southern Gauteng team, which won the 2019 South African Hockey u-21 Inter-Provincial Tournament in April.
The Mpumalanga native has made no secret of the fact that she aims to be a key asset to the team as it embarks on top four finishing hopes. She added that she hopes to replicate the form which saw her Southern Gauteng u-21 team become champions.
“My confidence has grown tremendously, and in this tournament, I hope to keep my confidence levels growing even more so I can play good hockey. I hope to be able to put my body on the line in every game, and from a team perspective, I hope that we come out in the top four and work from there to get further up,” said Sigudla.
