SACS’s dazzling Litha Kraai included in SA Men’s Indoor World Cup squad
When SuperSport Schools Plus caught up with South African College High School’s (SACS) hockey star, Litha Kraai earlier this year, he was preparing to represent Western Province at the u18 SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein.
At that tournament, Kraai was in top form, and he played a massive role in helping his team win their third u18 inter-provincial title in a row.
He was accurate and deadly in front of goal, finding the back of the net 10 times, which saw him finish the tournament as the second-highest goal scorer behind Boland’s Reuben Sendzul (Paul Roos Gimnasium), who topped the charts with 12 goals.
At the end of the tournament, Kraai was included in the SA Schools u18A side and was later also chosen for the SA u17 team, which will visit Malaysia later this year to compete in the Mirnawan Cup.
A lot has changed for Kraai since he sat down for a chat with SuperSport Schools Plus. His talent and skills have never been in doubt, but the national coaches are presenting him with more opportunities and greater responsibilities.
Over the past week, he helped the SA u21 men‘s team win the Senior Inter-Provincial Tournament for the first time in their history. In a nail-biting final, they defeated Southern Gauteng 2-1 on penalties after regulation time had finished level at 1-1.
Only a couple of days later, he was named in the South African Indoor Hockey Men’s squad for the forthcoming Nkosi Cup, which takes place in December, and next year’s FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup, which will be played in Poreč, Croatia, in February.
[In case you missed it: Litha Kraai video interview]
He’s the only uncapped player in the squad, and his selection comes after Kraai showcased his skills and impressed the coaches at a preparation camp held in Cape Town last month.
“Being named in the team feels amazing. It’s a dream come true,” he told SuperSport Schools.
“It’s such a big deal for me, something I never imagined would happen. The support from the team and coaches has been incredible, and it motivates me to keep pushing myself every day.”
Earlier in the year, he represented the Western Province Men’s Indoor team. In field hockey, he turned out for the Langa Hockey Club and SACS, for whom he played a key role in helping the team to number one status in South Africa for a second season in succession. Beyond that, he was in action for the Western Province u18 side and the SA u21 team. No doubt, 2024 has been his busiest year yet.
Despite his busy workload, motivation is not hard to come by, Kraai said.
“What has kept me going this season is the passion for the sport, the desire to improve, and the camaraderie with my teammates,” he shared.
“Even during tough times, the love for the game and the shared goals with the team keeps me motivated and focused.”
One slight drawback of his selection for the SA Men’s Indoor team is that the Nkosi Cup clashes with the Mirnawan Cup, so Kraai, who was part of the 2023 tournament in Malaysia, has withdrawn from this year’s event.
Instead, he will make his bow for the national Indoor team in the Nkosi Cup in December before the focus shifts to February’s Indoor World Cup.
“With playing in the Indoor Men’s team, my ultimate goal is to strive for excellence, to push my limits, and to contribute to the team’s success,” Kraai said.
“I want to improve my skills, learn from every experience, and hopefully, together, we can achieve great things on the court,” he concluded.
SA Indoor Hockey Mens Squad – Nkosi Cup & FIH Indoor World Cup
| Name | Caps | Name | Caps |
| Rusten Abrahams | 37 | Dayaan Cassiem | 36 |
| Mustapha Cassiem | 36 | Cullin de Jager | 3 |
| Lerou Dithakanyane | 3 | Justin Domleo | 60 |
| Jethro Eustice | 53 | Keegan Hezlett | 35 |
| Litha Kraai | 0 | Dalpiarro Langford | 25 |
| Hans Neethling | 3 | Anton van Loggerenberg | 26 |
Images used in this article are credited to Enhanced Sports Media (ES Media).
For more information about ES Media, contact: jonty@enhancedsports.co.za
