{"id":69471,"date":"2016-05-09T06:53:18","date_gmt":"2016-05-09T04:53:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/young-madibaz-out-to-stake-hockey-claim\/"},"modified":"2016-05-09T06:53:18","modified_gmt":"2016-05-09T04:53:18","slug":"young-madibaz-out-to-stake-hockey-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/young-madibaz-out-to-stake-hockey-claim\/","title":{"rendered":"Young Madibaz out to stake hockey claim"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Varsity<\/p>\n

Senior Madibaz player Ignatius Malgraff will have an important role to play in the Varsity Hockey tournament starting in Johannesburg on Friday. Photo: Saspa<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Having lost a number of senior players, a young NMMU-Madibaz team will be out to make a name for themselves in the first round of the Varsity Hockey tournament at the University of Johannesburg from Friday.<\/p>\n

Although a number of factors have hurt the Madibaz’s preparations, coach Cheslyn Gie said they would target an improvement after ending sixth in the 2014 edition of the biennial event.<\/p>\n

“We have a young team this year and our aim is to be in the top four,” he said. “Our strategy will differ for each team, depending on where their strengths lie.”<\/p>\n

Gie, who is excited about the future prospects of the club, said they would rely on some of their senior members to make an impact.<\/p>\n

“Players like current national star Ignatius Malgraff, with his electrifying speed and skill, and Chad Cairncross, who has improved his flicking ability, will play big roles.”<\/p>\n

He said their goalkeeper Chad Durrheim, who has been in the SA squad in the past year or so, would also be vital to their cause.<\/p>\n

With the SA interprovincial only having finished on Saturday, Gie said their preparations had been slightly behind where they would have liked to be.<\/p>\n

“It has been only okay,” he said.<\/p>\n

“We have given those coming back from the interprovincial a rest and not having lights at our new facility has seriously cut into our practice times.”<\/p>\n

With the Madibaz playing four games this weekend, plus a further four from May 13 to 16 after a three-day break, Gie said the depth of the squads would be key.<\/p>\n

“It is very important. We have already seen some of the interprovincial players taking strain having to go straight into another event.<\/p>\n

“We have however prepared the players as best we can.”<\/p>\n

He rated champions UJ, along with Maties and Tuks, as the top contenders.<\/p>\n

“It will definitely be them. They have recruited some of the best talent in the country.”<\/p>\n

Gie said his players were excited and ready to be counted in the televised matches.<\/p>\n

NMMU’s fixtures are: UCT (May 6), Wits, (May 7), Maties (May 8) and Tuks (May 9).<\/p>\n

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