South Africa: Olympic path open for hockey women  x2
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| South Africa |
October 14, 2003
Independent Online
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October 14, 2003
By Karien Jonckheere
Abuja (Nigeria): South Africa's women's hockey team have yet to have a goal scored against them at the All Africa Games.
In fact, goalkeepers Caroline Birt and Grazjyna Engelbrecht could just as well have stayed at home as the number of times they have had to come into contact with the ball is marginal.
Yesterday's game against Zimbabwe was no different. Having provided tough competition for the South Africans in the past, the Zimbabweans could this time offer no resistance, being thumped 13-0.
SA's most prolific goalscorer, Pietie Coetzee, proved just why she is considered one of the best strikers at international level, scoring seven of the 13 goals.
Johke Koornhof also got in on the action, scoring four goals while Jen Wilson and captain Susan Webber scored one each.
So far Nigeria have been the team to have the fewest goals scored against them by the South Africans. But that was still seven goals.
And as it stands, it seems that there is no team on the continent that can stand between the South Africans, the gold medal and, more importantly, automatic qualification for next year's Olympic Games.
"The gap between ourselves and the rest of Africa is getting wider and not smaller," said SA coach Ros Howell. "And the more we are exposed to international competition, the more the gap will widen."
Meanwhile, South Africa's baseballers took one step closer to getting their hands on the gold medal when they defeated Uganda 7-1 in yesterday's semifinal match.
They will meet Nigeria in today's final, after the host side beat Zimbabwe 6-2 in their semi-final.
The South Africans will have an extra measure of confidence, having beaten Nigeria in the preliminary rounds last week.
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