The South African men failed to finish in the top four placings at the World League event, in Malaysia, in June/July, and a top-four finish would have granted the team automatic entry to the World Cup.
The team now has to win the Africa Cup of Nations tournament from September 26 to October 5, in Nairobi, Kenya, in order to reach the 2014 World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands.
Speaking about the tournament, Eustice said: “The SA men’s side that has been selected would have to be one of the best and most complete South African teams that has been put together in a while, with some really experienced faces coming back to the team.
“To be selected as part of the team to go to the African Cup feels great and could leave me in a good position to play for the South African team at the 2014 World Cup.”
Eustice added that he is really excited about the trip to Kenya with “the Lads”.
“We have not had much of a chance to meet up since Malaysia, so it is great to get everybody back together for the continental cup competition,” he said.
The South African men’s team will be going to the African Cup competition as the highest ranked team at the tournament and, with Egypt pulling out due to political unrest in their country, the Lads are clear favourites to win.
The defender said that playing any African team on home soil will be tremendously tough, though, and he believes that Kenya is the team to be most careful of.
“There is also Ghana, of course, who have had some coaches come out from Europe to help them build their technical and tactical abilities to compete at the highest level.
“We are the reigning champs of Africa so I really think that we will go to Kenya and bring the trophy back home with us,” he concluded.
