New Faces, Familiar Rivalry as SPAR South Africa Prepare for Namibia Test Series

The SPAR South African Women’s Indoor Hockey team will renew one of African hockey’s most competitive rivalries when they take on Namibia in a five-match Test series at the Sports Facilitation Centre at the Windhoek Showgrounds from 9–11 October. With international debuts on the horizon and an experienced core returning to action, the series offers an exciting opportunity to build towards the next chapter of South African indoor hockey.

There is rarely much room to breathe when these two nations meet. Namibia claimed the first two women’s Nkosi Cup titles in 2023 and 2024, while South Africa secured the 2024 Indoor Africa Cup after a dramatic final in Swakopmund. Having been held to a 3–3 draw, South Africa prevailed in the shootout, with Tegan Fourie delivering the decisive finish.

South Africa enjoyed the better of their most recent meetings, winning both encounters at the 2025 Nkosi Cup. A narrow 4–3 victory in the round-robin stage was followed by a 5–3 semi-final success, before the hosts defeated Australia to lift the trophy for the first time. Those results provide encouragement, but this rivalry has repeatedly shown how quickly the balance can shift.

Namibia present a substantial challenge on home soil. They finished sixth at the 2025 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Croatia, two places ahead of South Africa, and enter the series ranked eighth in the world, with South Africa ninth. Experienced campaigners including Petro Stoffberg, Sunelle Pretorius and Gillian Hermanus give the hosts a strong foundation for another closely contested weekend.

For South Africa, one of the most compelling storylines is the prospect of four players taking their first steps into international indoor hockey. Anja Tromp, Manisha Desai, Jodie Blows and Jehan Abrahams are all in line to make their debuts, adding fresh energy to the 14-player squad.

They will have considerable experience alongside them. Jamie Southgate brings 111 caps into the series, while Edith Molikoe has 85 and Tegan Fourie 81. Together, the trio provide a valuable platform for the newcomers as South Africa look to strengthen combinations and broaden their international depth.

There is also an interesting connection on the bench. South African head coach Calvin Price previously helped Namibia achieve their top-six finish at the 2025 World Cup, adding another layer of familiarity to an already well-established rivalry.

Five Tests across three days will demand quick recovery, adaptability and consistency. For the newcomers, it is an opportunity to establish themselves. For the experienced players, it is a chance to set the standard and help shape the team’s next phase.

SPAR South African Squad

Anja Tromp, Bonolo Moabi, Cailynn den Bakker, Cerian Fourie, Chelsey Woolf, Edith Molikoe, Elizabeth Porter, Jamie Southgate, Jehan Abrahams, Jodie Blows, Malikah Hamza, Manisha Desai, Sarah Paget and Tegan Fourie.

Fixtures

All five matches will be streamed live on Gravity’s YouTube channel, giving supporters the opportunity to follow the SPAR South African Women as they take on their continental rivals.