The Proteas' Tegan Fourie celebrates with Robyn Johnson, Jamie Southgate and Jess Lardant last year.
Image: Tyron Barnard
Indoor Hockey World Cup stars Tegan Fourie, Cailynn den Bakker and Edith Molikoe will add firepower to the SA women’s outdoor hockey squad that will face Malaysia in a four-match Test series.
It is the SA side’s first international action under new head coach Inky Zondi. The South African trio will renew their rivalry with Malaysia from the indoor showpiece in Croatia.
South Africa drew 4-4 against the Asian indoor champions in a pulsating opening match in Porec. Unfortunately for the South Africans, they were not able to kick on from there but they ended the tournament strongly, with victory over the hosts and Australia.
They will be among the few players to have their Malaysian rivals recently, albeit in the indoor format.
In line with the team’s commitment to building a broader player base, five players will earn their first senior international call-ups on tour: Ane Janse van Vuuren, Cerian Fourie, Baylee Engelke, Tamlyn Kock, Teshawn de la Rey and Shanna Mendonca.
Their inclusion is a reflection of the ongoing effort to grow depth and create more opportunities at the highest level. Fourie said her selection was a dream come true.
“For as long as I can remember, it’s been a dream of mine to play for the senior women’s team, as part of this goal that I’ve been working towards but has always been just out of reach,” Fourie said.
“When I heard that I would get to debut in Malaysia it felt surreal. It took me a while to actually process. I was very emotional.”
The squad features a strong mix of experience and fresh faces.
Paris 2024 Olympians Molikoe, Hannah Pearce, Ntsopa Mokoena, Onthatile Zulu and Ongeziwe Mali will bring valuable international experience to the SA side.
This series will provide Zondi with a great opportunity to test combinations, fine-tune their approach, and build momentum for a crucial year ahead.
The South Africans are ranked No 21 in the world in outdoor, with the Malaysians two spots below them. But their recent achievements have suggested that they are one of the rising forces in world hockey. It promises to be a tight contest.
The matches will take place on February 28, and March 1, 3 and 4.
Meanwhile, new men’s national team coach Sihle Ntuli also got to assess the local-based talent at his disposal with a camp at the University of Pretoria at the weekend.
They are also ramping up preparations for the continental competition that will act as qualifiers for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup in Belgium and Holland next year.
SA women’s squad to face Malaysia: Ane Janse van Vuuren, Aphiwe Dimba, Baylee Engelke, Cailynn den Bakker, Cerian Fourie, Charne Maddocks, Edith Molikoe, Hannah Pearce, Jean-Leigh du Toit, Lerato Mahole, Marlise van Tonder, Morgan de Jager, Ntsopa Mokoena, Ongeziwe Mali, Onthatile Zulu, Shanna Mendonca, Tamlyn Kock, Tegan Fourie,Teshawn de la Rey
