The South African Indoor Hockey Men, backed by Tops at SPAR, aimed to reaffirm their dominance in African hockey as they sought to retain their title as African Champions. Although both teams had already qualified for the Indoor World Cup in Croatia, pride was still very much at stake, creating a tense atmosphere.
The opening quarter saw few chances, with a notable save from DJ Strauss keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. The second quarter mirrored the first in its defensive intensity. South Africa had a golden opportunity with a penalty stroke, but Mustapha Cassiem’s attempt was brilliantly saved by Strauss, leaving the score level at halftime.
The game’s much-needed breakthrough came from Mustapha Cassiem, who, with his back to the goal, executed a trademark roundhouse shot into the bottom corner. Cassiem soon turned provider, setting up Langford for a swift counterattack goal. Cullin de Jager’s impressive triple save was followed by Fagan Hansen pulling one back for Namibia from a penalty corner.
Just before the break, Hansen equalized from another penalty corner, setting up a thrilling final 10 minutes. In the final quarter, Cassiem once again showcased his talent with a stunning finish into the roof of the net, but Namibia quickly equalized through Cody van der Merwe. The match ended in a draw, leading to a shootout.
The shootout extended to five rounds, with Namibia emerging victorious. Captain DJ Strauss was the hero, leading the underdogs to a landmark win over South Africa.
Individual Awards – Indoor Africa Cup 2024
Goalkeeper of the tournament – Cullin de Jager (South Africa)
Player of the tournament – Ernest Jacobs (Namibia)
Top Goal scorer – Mustapha Cassiem (South Africa)
Final Standings – Indoor Africa Cup 2024
1 – Namibia
2 – South Africa
3 – Zimbabwe
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