Sunday Tribune

SA Men’s hockey team heads home

TASCHICA PILLAY taschica.pillay@inl.co.za

SOUTH Africa’s men’s hockey team may not have made the quarter-finals at the Tokyo Olympic Games, but were able to move five spots in the world ranking.

The team, who will leave Tokyo today, moved from number 15 to number 10.

Brothers, Dayaan and Mustapha Cassiem, made their Olympics debut representing Team South Africa in men’s hockey.

South Africa secured its spot at the Tokyo Olympics Games by winning the 2019 Men’s African Olympic Qualifier.

After losing to Great Britain, Netherlands and Belgium, South Africa beat Germany 4-3 and drew on Friday morning with Canada 4-4, but did not qualify for the quarter-final.

Dayaan, 22, said he was a bit disappointed that they didn’t make the quarter-final but added that they would move on from this.

“We were in a tough pool. We had goals for this tournament and did what we could and definitely achieved one of our goals, to beat one of the top teams in the world, and that was against Germany,” he said.

Dayaan said he enjoyed his experience at the Olympics.

“It is one of the major events in the world. It was something everyone would want to do in their life. I can’t describe how amazing it was. Also the journey toward the Olympics, building up was a tough one and getting to the Olympics and experiencing different things and walking around the amazing village. It has been a dream come true.

“My experience at the Olympics was a good one. It’s always cool to see other athletes in the village that you look up to and playing against certain teams or countries where your role models are in the team. I learnt a lot from the matches, something we missed during the tough times of Covid. I will definitely be able to take things back,” he said.

Dayaan, from Cape Town but currently playing hockey in Germany, started playing hockey at the age of 5.

“I had the choice between football and hockey. My dad was a football, hockey and rugby player and took us to the games. I fell in love with hockey,” he said.

Mustapha, 19, is Durban High School’s first team assistant coach.

In a message on the school’s Facebook page earlier this week they wrote: “DHS Hockey Coach scores at The Olympics!! Congratulations to our 1st Team Assistant Coach, Mustapha Cassiem on scoring his first goal at the Olympic Games against the Netherlands! A key factor to the success of DHS’ Hockey has been the calibre of our coaches. Mr Cassiem is the perfect example of this, as you can’t get better than an Olympian! All of our boys are backing you to add more goals to your name, Sir!”

METRO

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2021-08-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-08-01T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://sundaytribune.pressreader.com/article/281565178802580

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