BHA’s skilled win
BEAULIEU – The final match between the two men's sides were decided during a penalty shootout.
Beaulieu Hockey Academy (BHA) Stallions men’s team was victorious in the Southern Gauteng Indoor Hockey League finals recently at Cliffview Primary School.
The Stallions took on Southern Warriors in an intense final. Three seconds before the first ‘chukka’ ended, Stallions captain Fawaaz Kahder opened the scoring from a penalty corner. A few minutes later, Warriors’ Chad Futcher levelled the score and teammate Ryan Mann extended the lead to 2–1 after his team were awarded a penalty corner.
The third chukka proved to be controversial when a goal from Kahder was allowed after it was unclear if the ball had crossed the line to level the score at 2–2. Stallions went ahead in the final chukka after a Sanele Mchunu goal but Warriors soon equalised through Brynn Cleak. It was Stallions who again took the lead with a Marvin Simons strike but with just three seconds left on the clock, a controversial call by the umpire saw Warriors being awarded a penalty corner.
Futcher stepped up and converted for the 4–4 draw. The game went to a penalty shoot-out and captain Kahder was the only successful taker when he beat South Africa goalkeeper Siya Nolutshungu to secure a 1–0 win for the Stallions. Coach of the Stallions, Allistar Fredericks said the Stallions showed they had the skill and quality to win.
“A majority of the players [Warriors] are national players and we knew we needed to work hard. At the end of the day, shoot-outs decided who would win,” Fredericks concluded.
