World’s All Stars Choose Marsha

SA national women’s hockey captain Marsha Marescia, pictured here in action during the recent SPAR Challenge against Australia, has been included in the international women’s 2007 World Hockey All Star team.

Marsha Marescia, captain of the SPAR national hockey team, has been included in the international women’s 2007 World Hockey All Star team.

The All Star team comprises 18 players and two coaches, and the players are selected by visitors to the International Hockey Federation’s (FIH) website.

Eleven countries – Netherlands, Australia, Argentina, Spain, Japan, USA, England, Germany, South Africa, China and Korea – are represented in the All Stars team.

Midfielder Marescia first represented South Africa at the Champions Challenge in Johannesburg in 2002, and since then she has played in a number of major tournaments such as the World Cup, the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, and the All Africa and Afro-Asian Games, as well as a number of smaller tournaments.

Marescia has led South Africa to the World Cup in Spain last year, taking over the captain’s armband from Lindsay Wright (nee Carlisle), and only found out about her selection having arrived back today from the Netherlands. where the team have been taking part in a training camp.

"It’s all a bit overwhelming at this stage… I am just honoured and amazed at being selected and hope that it will inspire my team and other potential national hockey players to keep striving to be the best" said Marescia.