Namibia’s men’s and women’s hockey teams delivered outstanding performances yesterday at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Poreč, Croatia, securing back-to-back victories against Trinidad & Tobago and New Zealand.

The men’s team bounced back from an opening 7-4 defeat to Belgium with a solid 6-3 win over Trinidad & Tobago. Pieter Jacobs, John Paul Britz (twice), Cody van der Merwe, Dakota Hansen and Nico Neethling all found the net, sealing an important victory for Namibia.

Despite being named Player of the Match, Jacobs admitted that his basics were not at their best. “We’ll take the win,” he said.

Head coach Trevor Cormack acknowledged the slow start, but emphasised the need for improvement. “We took too long to settle,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Namibia’s women’s team dominated their fixture, dismantling New Zealand 7-0 in a commanding performance. Danja Meyer opened the scoring, followed by goals from Jahntwa Kruger (three goals), and Azaley Philander, whereas Taramarie Myburgh also scored twice, ensuring a comprehensive win.

Head coach Shayne Cormack praised his squad for their discipline and execution. “They followed the game plan perfectly. I dedicate this victory to all the coaches who have contributed to this team’s journey – it’s a unified effort,” he said.

Player of the Match Kiana-Che Cormack expressed her excitement and readiness for the next challenge. “We’re prepared to take on defending champions Germany. I trust our coaches’ strategy, and we give all glory to God,” she remarked.

The women’s team had already made a strong statement in their opening match, securing a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Australia.

Today, the women will face Germany at 14h30, whereas the men’s side will face Australia at 22h30. 

-lmupetami@nepc.com.na