The men’s hockey team from Tuks demonstrated that their extensive hours of training paid off when they clinched the title in Durban, defeating Maties with an impressive scoreline of 4-1 in the final. Throughout the tournament, the champions showcased their prowess by scoring 22 goals and conceding only six.
Coach Sigz Ntuli expressed his satisfaction, saying, “I love it when a plan comes together.” He believes that winning the USSA’s is a well-deserved reward for the players’ genuine hard work and sacrifices. Despite being accused of overtraining, their performance in the tournament justified the approach they had taken.
Ntuli mentioned that he is incredibly proud of his team, but he wasn’t surprised by the outcome. He had previously expressed concerns about his team not facing enough challenging games in the local league, leading them to cruise through their matches and lacking experience in pressure situations compared to teams from Johannesburg and the Western Cape.
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To address this issue, Ntuli decided to withdraw Tuks from playing in the Northerns League that season to provide his players with more opportunities to compete against formidable opponents. They traveled extensively and played against some of Johannesburg’s best teams, preparing themselves well for the USSA’s with 20 games in their build-up.
One key aspect of Tuks’ game plan was to force their opposition into conceding penalty corners, mainly due to the exceptional drag flicking abilities of Guy Morgan, who scored seven goals in five games during the USSA’s.
However, Ntuli was pleased that their success was not solely dependent on penalty corners, as they also showcased brilliant field goals. He praised the team’s unity and how each player contributed to their victory, especially the debutants who had only been with Tuks for six months but stepped up when it mattered the most.
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The cancellation of the Varsity Hockey Tournament was a disappointment for Ntuli and the team, as it meant their season had come to an end. Nevertheless, they remained hopeful that the tournament would return next year as it was a definite highlight in student hockey.
