Investec SA WC Squad Announced

The South African women’s hockey squad for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014 in the Hague, from 31 May to 15 June, was unveiled at the Investec headquarters in Sandton, Johannesburg, on Tuesday, 6 May, 2014.

(Scroll down to view the Investec SA squad selected for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014, plus the tournament groups and South Africa’s group-stage matches, and click here to view the wrap of the FIH Champions Challenge 1 in Glasgow on gsport)

The players were also presented with their brand new adidas World Cup playing, training and leisure clothing by kit sponsor adidas.

“The South African women’s hockey team wear the Investec name as role models, as athletes and individuals and they complement the brand effectively and with integrity. We put our total support behind the team and share their anticipation, dedication, energy and talent as the World Cup draws closer,” said Janet Larsen, Head of Marketing at Investec South Africa.

The team is unchanged from that which represented South Africa at the Champions Challenge in Scotland, where they won the bronze medal by beating Spain in Glasgow on Sunday.

“The Investec South Africa women’s hockey team, ranked 11th in the world, is one of our two flagship teams and as a national body we wish them everything of the best for the World Cup and we know the South African public will be right behind them,” said Marissa Langeni, CEO of the South African Hockey Association.

Among the squad members, 12 of the 18 women in the squad have more than 100 international caps each, and 13 of them have previously performed for South Africa at the Olympics.

World no. 11th-ranked South Africa have been drawn in Pool B of the tournament, which includes Argentina (ranked world no. 2), England (3), Germany (6), China (7), the USA (10) and South Africa (11).

Pool A of the tournament features the Netherlands (multiple former world champions and currently ranked no. 1 in the world), Australia (4), New Zealand (5), Korea (8), Japan (9) and Belgium (12).

South Africa play their first fixture against the group’s top-ranked team Argentina on Sunday 1 June in the Hague, followed by a tight schedule featureing a match every two to three days, against Germany (Tuesday 3 June), England (Friday 6 June), China (Sun 8 June), with their final Group B match against the USA on Tuesday 10 June.

The Investec SA Women’s Hockey Team Selected for the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014 in the Hague, from 31 May to 15 June:

Photo caption: The SA women’s hockey squad to contest the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014 in the Hague, from 31 May to 15 June, was unveiled at team sponsor Investec’s headquarters in Sandton, Johannesburg, this afternoon. Photo: Charles Johnstone

(With editing by gsport)