“The players are really looking forward to the challenge,” said SA men’s hockey team head coach Gregg Clark. “We have done our best to make the two sides as well balanced as possible and now it’s up to the players to go out there and give their best.”
A month ago in Durban, the EagleTurf All Star Series I event took place and Brothers Sport Braves led by national captain Austin Smith enjoyed a 3-1 series victory in four hotly contested matches against the iTrainer Warriors, led by Justin Reid-Ross.
The quality of hockey on display drew praise from SA selection convenor Mike Bechet and was echoed by the big turnout of spectators.
There are players in contention for Clark’s national team that are unavailable for EagleTurf All Star Series II due to injury or work commitments, but aside from that the group represents the most highly regarded men’s hockey players in the country, divided into the two teams,
Matches two, three and four between the Braves and the Warriors in EagleTurf All Star Series II take place on Friday, Sunday and Monday at Krugersdorp High School with 5 pm start times.
EagleTurf All Star Series II will run parallel with the SA Masters Interprovincial Tournament in Krugersdorp, which features more than 1 000 men and women over the age of 35 who gather once a season to renew old friendships.
Many of them are former greats of the South African game and a group of All Star Series II players said it would be a privilege to play in front of them, as well as the local hockey fans that don’t get to see the country’s best men’s players in their neighbourhood too often.
To add further spectator value, SA men’s hockey team business manager Jack Thonissen, the inspiration and chief organiser of the series, has introduced several exciting concepts that appealed to the fans in Durban and are sure to do the same during EagleTurf All Star Series II.
ALL STAR SERIES II TEAMS
iTrainer Warriors: Rassie Pieterse, Gowan Jones, Justin Reid-Ross (capt), Lloyd Madsen, Ricky West, Ashlin Freddy, Clinton Panther, Taine Paton, Wade Paton, Jonty Robinson, Nick Gonsalves, Owen Mvimbi, Lloyd Norris-Jones, Craig Haley, Thornton McDade, Geowynne Gamiet, Matt Botha.
Brothers Sport Braves: Brendon Botes, Jacques le Roux, Gareth Carr, Andrew Cronje, Francois Pretorius, Rhett Halkett, Matt Fairweather, Peter Bailey, Lance Louw, Austin Smith (capt), Grant Robertson, Clive Terwin, Shaun Davenhill, Tim Drummond, Miguel da Graca, Julian Hykes, Pierre de Voux, Ian Haley.
Source: Jonathan Cook, Hockey SA
