Abrahams, McGregor underline South Africa’s dominance over Zimbabwe
Raffael Abrahams and Chelsey McGregor scored a brace each as South Africa u17A completed a clean sweep of their Allistar Fredericks Africa Challenge four-match series with a 5-0 win over Zimbabwe u18A at St David’s Marist Inanda, in Sandton, on Friday.
The margin was South Africa’s largest, after previous back-to-back 4-0 victories in their first and second matches, then a 3-0 win in the third game.
After their second match, coach Omari Pienaar-Geyer stated that the team’s main focus was on improving. There was no better testament to that than the fact that her charges were more clinical and had the Zimbabweans chasing shadows after four days of action.
“We grew massively as a team,” Pienaar-Geyer told Supersport Schools Plus.
“We focused on our structure during outlets and played around with different shapes. We also worked on our press, and turning over the ball in specific areas, which made a big difference.”
The visible strides the girls made imbued Pienaar-Geyer with confidence that the team would be able to hold their own and challenge strongly at the Dato Mirnawan Cup, in Malaysia, later in the year. She coached the outfit that contested the annual event last year and has a full understanding of the tournament’s demands.
Pienaar-Geyer also said that while the spotlight and credit for the team’s success falls on her, it had been a team effort. She leaned on the wisdom and experience of her coaching staff: assistant coach, Illse Davids; Damian Kimfley, who served as the team’s video analyst; the goalkeepers’ coach, Shaun Laubscher; and Nonnie Mtolo, the team manager.
“We worked super well together. I also want to thank the SASHOC executive team, specifically Sharmin Naidoo and Wayne Marsden, for creating this opportunity for the kids and staff,” Pienaar-Geyer said.
On Friday, the match seemed like a continuation of the teams’ Thursday encounter, which finished 3-0 in favour of the hosts. For much of the contest, South Africa flooded the Zimbabwe final third in search of a goal, while the visitors had a sea of white shirts defending against South Africa’s incursions.
The initial breakthrough came five minutes before the end of the first chukka when Raffael Abrahams scored from a penalty corner when the ball somehow evaded everyone else and she tapped in at the far post.
South Africa could have gone 2-0 up in the last minute of the quarter, when Chelsey McGregor forced a turnover on the edge of the Zimbabwe circle. But the visitors scrambled well to keep the home team out. However, the reprieve was only momentary. Azania Petersen kept the attack alive and fed McGregor, who would not be denied on the second time of asking a few seconds later.
Petersen, then, turned from provider to scorer shortly after the resumption of play in the second chukka. After Emihle Wulana found Petersen unmarked in the circle, the St Andrew’s schoolgirl made no mistake from close range.
In the final chukka, Petersen was again in the thick of things. She closed down a Zimbabwean player immediately after the restart, won the ball, and threaded a pass to Abrahams, who showed nifty skills, putting her indoor hockey experience on display, as she beat the Zimbabwe goalkeeper to score her second goal of the day.
That strike brought Abrahams’ tally for the tournament to three, making her the joint-highest scorer, alongside Jemma Ferreira, who scored her three goals in the first two matches.
Timari Jonker, Sarah-Ellen Groenewald, Zezethu Kunene, and McGregor combined beautifully for South Africa’s fifth goal. It began when Jonker forced a turnover in South Africa’s half. She, then, slid a pass to Groenewald, who dribbled past a handful of Zimbabwe defenders before playing the ball into the opposition’s circle.
Kunene screened the advancing Zimbabwean ‘keeper well and helped the ball on to McGregor, who scored her second and South Africa’s fifth.
While South Africa’s forwards will get the plaudits for consistently finding the back of the net, their defence deserves mention for the manner in which they held the visitors at bay. They denied Zimbabwe circle entries and in the odd moments that the visitors sneaked through, they were stonewalled by South Africa’s goalkeeping pair of Annika Kloppers and Peyton Marais, who took turns in goal.
“We aimed to play with intent and have fun, and we ticked all the boxes,” Pienaar-Geyer said.
Results
South Africa u17A: 5 (Raffael Abrahams (2), Chelsey McGregor (2), Azania Petersen). Zimbabwe u18A: 0.
SA u16A: 3. Zimbabwe u16A: 0.
