SA hockey prepares for Beijing
15 February 2008With less than six months before the start of the Olympic Games in August, the South African women's hockey team's preparations for Beijing are well under way.
As part of their preparations for the Olympics, they are playing a three-test series against Canada in Pretoria next week, ahead of the three-nations Spar Cup tournament in Johannesburg at the end of the month.
The three matches against the Canadians will be played on 21, 22 and 24 February at the Tshwane University of Technology.
'Very good preparation'
South African captain Marsha Marescia said she is excited about the series against Canada. "Playing the Canadians before the three-nations at the end of the month will be very good preparation for us as a team.
"We are well into our preparations for the Olympic Games, and the more competition we have, the better.
"It will also be interesting to see how the Canadians have progressed over the last year," Marescia said. "They have always been a physically strong and immensely fit team, and I'm sure this series they'll be no different."
While South Africa has qualified for the Olympics, Canada has not yet qualified, and they will be using the series as part of their preparations.
'An invaluable opponent'
"South Africa has been an invaluable opponent for the Canadian team over the last three years," said Canadian captain Sarah Hughes. "As an Olympic team, the South Africans provide the Canadian team with a strong level of opposition, both physically and tactically.
"We have played South Africa every year since 2005, and so the South African team provides us with a gauge of our overall progress and level of improvement on the international stage," Hughes said.
"The opportunity to compete in South Africa and gain some warm weather training during the Canadian winter is also advantageous, particularly at present when the Canadian team is preparing for the final Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which Canada is hosting in Victoria, BC at the end of April."
World rankings
South Africa is currently ranked 12th in the world, while Canada is ranked 23rd.
The South African selectors have chosen a 21-member squad to attend a training camp at the High Performance Centre at Pretoria University next week, ahead of the series against Canada. The final squad will be chosen at the end of the training camp.
Fiona Butler and Shelly Russell will both miss the Canadian series because of injury, while Jenny Wilson will be rested.
Squads
South Africa: Marietta Rix, Santana Mandisa, Hanli Hattingh, Cindy Brown, Taryn Hosking, Vidette Ryan, Lenise Marais, Lisa Deetlefs, Kim Hubach, Pippa Rabey, Marsha Marescia (capt), Lesley-Ann George, Tarryn Bright, Kate Hector, Marcelle Keet, Henna Du Buisson, Kathleen Taylor, Vida Ryan, Farrah Fredericks, Roxy Turner, and Dirkie Chamberlain.
Canada: Sarah Forbes (capt), Azelia Liu, Andrea Rushton, Katie Rushton, Christine DePape, Megan Anderson, Clare Linton, Hilary Linton, Stephanie Jameson, Diana Roemer, Carly Dickson, Kim Buker, Katie Baker, Philippa Kedgley, Stephanie Hume, Marian Dickinson, Cailie O'Hara, Kate Gillis, Tiffany Michaluk.
SAinfo reporter
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