FIH Nations Cup campaigns end in disappointment for SA hockey teams
FIH Nations Cup campaigns ended in disappointment for the national hockey teams at the weekend, with the men relegated from the Nations Cup and the women losing the seventh-place Nations Cup 2 play-off against hosts Malaysia.
Both matches were tense affairs, with the SA women edged in a shootout after a 1-1 draw against a team the African champions had beaten earlier in the tournament in Kuala Lumpur. Despite controlling large spells of the game, their Achilles heel in the final was once again their inability to convert chances.
Veteran Quanita Bobbs forced a save with a powerful effort, before Onthatile Zulu's thunderous strike rattled the crossbar in a first half where Malaysia created little.
Missed chances by Ntsopa Mokoena and Kayla de Waal left head coach Inky Zondi with hands on head in disbelief.
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