TheSouth African Hockey Association has announced a powerful SA Men’s Indoor Hockey squad for the 2025 Nkosi Cup, set for 12–16 December in Cape Town.
With New Zealand, Australia, Namibia and the USA all confirmed, the event promises another world-class indoor spectacle.
South Africa arrive with confidence after securing Africa’s first-ever Indoor World Cup medal earlier this year. They now prepare to defend their Nkosi Cup title for a third consecutive time, fuelled by the same exciting brand of high-tempo skills and precision that captured the world’s attention in Croatia.
Eight World Cup medallists return, including standout Player of the Tournament Mustapha Cassiem, who enters the competition with an incredible 118 goals from 47 tests. Veteran defender Jethro Eustice is set to become the most-capped SA indoor men’s player should he feature throughout the event.
The squad also welcomes back the experienced Ryan Julius, while debutant Travis Krumples joins after a strong Indoor IPT campaign.
SA Hockey Men – Nkosi Cup 2025 Dayaan Cassiem (47), Mustapha Cassiem (47), Cullin De Jager (13), Leruo Ditlhakanyane (14), Jethro Eustice (64), Keegan Hezlett (46), Ryan Julius (32), Travis Krumples (0), Dalpiarro Langford (36), Bongumusa Mngoma (28), Hans Neethling (14), Marvin Simons (6)
Wellington has always been a theatre of drama for the Springboks. From that famous 36-34 ambush in 2018 to the nail-biting 16-16 draw a year later, the Cake Tin has witnessed South Africa’s grit under the fiercest spotlight.
On Saturday morning, Siya Kolisi and his men return to the capital with the Rugby Championship title race wide open, the Freedom Cup on the line, and pride at stake against their oldest foes.
Assistant coach Mzwandile Stick knows exactly what it will take.
“This time, we need to be at our best for the full 80 minutes. We must be clinical, execute with precision, and turn opportunities into points.”
It is a simple equation against the All Blacks: blink, and you bleed.
Kolisi, who will lead the Boks for his 96th Test, echoed Stick’s call for composure. The chatter around South Africa’s new-look backline being too young, too raw, too untested, doesn’t faze him.
“There’s a good mixture of players in this team,” he said.
“Some have been here before, some have lifted two World Cups. It’s not a completely new side. The new faces bring something different, and that excites me.”
“It’s going to be intense, like a World Cup final in the way you need to stay calm and composed. But this is its own battle. There’s enough motivation to win this game and to make our country proud.”
The Freedom Cup adds its own layer of symbolism. South Africa claimed it last year for the first time since 2009, and defending it on New Zealand soil would be another statement of intent.
More importantly, a win would keep them in reach of both the Rugby Championship title and the No 1 world ranking.
The All Blacks will be ready, the crowd baying, the weather unpredictable. But as Kolisi leads his men out one truth remains: matches in Wellington are rarely forgotten.
Date: Saturday, September 8 Venue: Wellington Regional Stadium Kick-off: 09.05 SA time Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia) TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
After a 4 week high altitude training camp in Dullstroom in January, Matt made the long haul to New Zealand for his first race of the year at Tarawera Ultra-Trail By UTMB
Designed to capture the stunning and diverse landscapes of the Rotorua region and showcase what #TrailsFullofHeart is all about – connection with land and people in breathe taking surroundings on 105km of runnable trails with roughly 3000m of ascent.
The pace on Saturday was fast from the start and Matt was with the lead bunch. Last years winner Daniel Jones piled the pressure on, Matt measured his efforts to maintain a consistent pace throughout the race picking off runners one by one and moving into third place where he would manage a comfortable gap and find himself crossing the finish line to stand on yet another UTMB World Series podium behind now two times champion Daniel Jones(NZ) and Justin Grunewald(USA).
Races of this nature are not run on a weekly or even monthly bases as athletes need time to prepare with each Ultra Trail Run presenting its own unique challenges but then there is the recovery time post the race. The consistency Matt is showing is incredible and testament to his meticulous training and strategic race craft, in the past two years, Matt has accumulated incredible accolades:
• 2022 Mozart100 by UTMB, Austria – 10th overall, 5th in Category • 2022 Nice by UTMB, France – 5th overall, 3rd in Category • 2022 UTCT, South Africa – 6th overall and in Category • 2023 Trail Alsace Grand Est by UTMB, France – 2nd overall(behind 1st by 58seconds) • 2023 Julian Alps Trail Run by UTMB, Slovenia – 5th overall, 3rd in Category • 2024 Tarawera Ultra Trail by UTMB, New Zealand – 3rd overall, 2nd in Category
