The South African Women’s Hockey Team began their campaign at the inaugural FIH Nations Cup 2 in Gniezno, Poland with a 2-0 loss to Uruguay in a challenging opening encounter.
While the result was not what the team had hoped for, the occasion marked several important milestones. Hannah Pearce, a rock at the back for the national side, celebrated her 50th cap — a significant achievement for one of South Africa’s most dependable defenders. It was also a day of firsts, as three players — Shanna Medonca, Daniella de Oliveira, and Cerian Fourie — earned their senior international debuts, stepping proudly onto the global stage.
The game also signaled the start of a new era under head coach Inky Zondi, who leads the team into this next chapter with a focus on development, structure, and renewed ambition.
Unfortunately, it was Uruguay who settled quickest, taking control of the game early on. Manuela Vilar proved to be the difference, striking twice in the first half with well-taken goals that gave the South Americans a firm grip on the match. South Africa, though full of intent and energy, were unable to find their rhythm in the attacking third and struggled to convert possession into genuine scoring opportunities.
To their credit, the South Africans showed greater composure in the second half, shoring up defensively and producing several promising moments going forward. But Uruguay’s disciplined defence held firm, and South Africa were ultimately unable to mount a comeback.
With the opening match now behind them, attention turns to the next challenge — a must-perform clash against Malaysia, where the team will be looking to bounce back, sharpen their attacking play, and turn promising build-up into goals.
🗓 Next Match: South Africa vs Malaysia
🕓 16:00 (SA Time) | Tuesday, 17 June
📺 Live Stream: Exclusively on Watch.Hockey
