Coach shares takeaways from SA u17 girls’ Dato Mirnawan Cup campaign
The South African u17 girls’ hockey team fell just short of finishing on the podium at the Dato Mirnawan Cup after going down 3-4 to South Korea in the bronze medal match.
The tournament, which began on 1 November, concluded on Sunday at the Bukit Jalil National Hockey Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
There was joy for the hosts, after their boys’ team claimed gold, beating South Korea 3-2 in the final, while Japan defeated Australia, also by a 3-2 margin, to win the girls’ title.
The South African girls were a little unfortunate to miss out after making it through to the semi-finals.
Coach Omari-Pienaar Geyer’s side was drawn in Group Y alongside Japan and the Malaysia Tigresses. The SA girls scored a statement 4-0 win over the hosts in their opener before slipping to a 2-4 defeat against the eventual winners, Japan.
They had done enough, however, to secure a semi-final showdown with a tough Australian side that had won two of its three matches in Group X.
Coach Pienaar-Geyer’s team produced a valiant effort against the Aussies but went down 1-3 to set up a clash with South Korea on the final day.
With a bronze medal on the line, South Africa fought hard and competed until the final whistle but were squeezed out, losing by the odd goal in seven. Last year, the SA girls’ side suffered a similar fate, losing 0-2 to India in the bronze medal game.
Despite her charges not picking up a medal, coach Piernaar-Geyer praised the side and said she was pleased with the effort shown by the players throughout the week.
“I’m proud of the team,” she declared. “It’s a testament to their hard work, dedication, and skill,” she told SuperSport Schools Plus.
“Being in a different country, where they’re far from family and eat and sleep differently, is a massive challenge. Whether they win or not, competing at that level is a huge accomplishment.”
The leadership responsibilities in the team were split, with coach Pienaar-Geyer opting for two captains and a vice-captain.
Jehan Abrahams and Amber Fairon co-captained the side, while Caprice Bengston served as the vice-captain.
They were the only players left over from last year’s group, and the coach praised them for leading from the front.
“It was great to see our leaders step up, especially since all three experienced the same tournament with me last year,” she said.
“So, it was kind of expected. It was also good to see how the others fed off their energy and effort.
“However, I’m really happy with how every single player rose to the occasion and led in their way.”
Assessing what needed to be improved for next year’s tournament, Pienaar-Geyer identified several areas of need. “One of the key learnings from the tournament is the urgent need for high-performance programmes in our regions,” she said.
“Developing our goalkeepers is crucial, as they play a vital role in the team’s success. Additionally, we need to focus on improving our defensive strategies, particularly in winning one-on-one situations.
“Fostering overall connections among players will enhance teamwork and performance. Training and playing together more often will always be a challenge but will be something we try and create more often with SA regional sessions.”
Pienaar-Geyer will have a strong base to build on for next year, with the majority of the players still eligible for selection.
Out of the 18-player squad, five were in the u17 category, while there were seven u16 players and six u15s.
There is, however, no guarantee that the players who toured Malaysia this year will again be selected in 2025. It will all come down to them performing well for their schools and provinces.
A top player who missed out on the tournament was Bianca Rees-Gibbs, from Eunice, who suffered a life-threatening medical issue but is now recovering.
Pienaar-Geyer had a message for her: “A special shoutout to Bianca Rees-Gibbs, who unfortunately couldn’t participate in this tournament with us. We wish her all the best for her upcoming operation and a smooth recovery journey ahead. We can’t wait to see you on the field again,” she concluded.
