The Steinhoff Maties Men's hockey team made club history this weekend when they won the Western Province Grand Challenge (WPGC) title for a third consecutive time. No other Maties men's hockey team has managed to do this.
The Maties men's team were undefeated in the WPGC league during these three years.
Maties were in the lead going into the final weekend of league matches with only WPCC still in a position to upset the applecart. WPCC had to win the match against Maties on Saturday while a draw would have been good enough for Maties.
For some 65 minutes it was a war of attrition between the teams. Attacking opportunities were few and far between because both teams defended as if their lives depended on it. With only a few minutes to go WPCC replaced their goalkeeper with another attacking player to get the victory they needed. However, while WPCC was on the attack the possession was turned over and De Voux, in his last season at Maties, scored the goal that sealed victory for his team and broke WPCC hearts. Maties won 1-0.
Maties captain Dylan Swanepoel was part of all three league victories. "These three WPGC titles mean a lot. To do it three times in a row has taken a lot of sacrifices and hard work, so it's a great feeling to know that it was worth it. The knowledge that no other Maties men's team had been able to achieve this, makes it all the more special," said a proud Swanepoel.
Neither Swanepoel nor coach Neville Rothman wanted to mention any individuals by name as standout players during the season.
Swanepoel ventured an answer though: "The whole team did really well throughout the season and different players stood out at different times. However, I do feel Jacques le Roux (goalkeeper) deserves a special mention because of the way he played on Saturday."
Maties Women also won the WPCG title this season, for the fifth time in a row. Read article here.
Photograph: Outsider Communications
