Hockey stars dethrone reigning champs

The KZN Inland A team conquered the Men’s Districts Tournament held in Limpopo against reigning champs, Southern Cape.
The tournament took place between July 4 – 12 in Pietersburg High School Astro. The South African Country Districts (SACD) is more than a hockey tournament for most players.
“It’s a reunion of friends and a beginning of lifelong friendships,” expressed Blessing Khumalo, KZN Inland A team player.

The team played seven games including play-offs and they won all their games to beat the reigning champions after seven years.
The team played Wits on day one winning 3-1, Limpopo on day two winning 1-0, Northerns Blues on day three, drawing 2-2, Eastern Gauteng on day four, winning 5-0, Western Province on day five, drawing 4-4.

The semi-finals took place on Friday against Mpumalanga, which the local boys won 1-0 to qualify for the final.
The final against Southern Cape on day seven was an enthralling finish to the tournament.
The KZN team clinched a 1-0 victory against the seven-year reigning champions.
“We last won the tournament in 2007 so this has been a great victory for the team,” said Perry Bryon, team manager.
The Inland A team also paid a special tribute to ‘an absolute legend of SACD Hockey’ Andre “Papa” Erasmus, who was killed in a freak cycling accident in Cape Town earlier this year while preparing for his 21st Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Five of the Inland A team players were chosen for Inter Provincial Tournament (IPT) to be played in Pretoria at the end of August: Keith Stainbank as vice captain, Leeroy Holmes, Blessing Khumalo, Ryan Sclanders and Garreth Reeve (keeper).