Proteas get tied down by Thailand in World Cup opener

The SA women’s indoor hockey team were held to a 4-4 draw by Thailand in their opening FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup Croatia 2025 at the Zatika Sports Centre in Porec on Monday.

The South Africans missed the chance to grab a late winner when a Kayla de Waal flick struck the upright with the clock winding down. The Asian champions caught the South African women napping with a goal in the opening minute after an attack down the right and cross into the D that wasn’t cleared.

The early setback seemed to stun SA in a jittery opening, but they had a chance to settle the early nerves with a short corner. Despite a great injection the trap was not controlled and the chance went begging.

They would make amends on their next penalty corner after a breakaway. The injection was again spot on and Malika Hamza’s drag flick found the back of the net.

SA then took control of the quarter and Cailynn den Bakker put them 2-1 up. After defending a promising Thailand attack, South Africa broke quickly and a lovely team move between Den Bakker and Laylaa Davids set up the former to give the Africans a 2-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Thailand again pressed the South Africans at the beginning of the second quarter but were kept out this time. Both goalkeepers ensured there would be no further addition to the score, until De Waal was fouled and Tegan Fourie tucked away the resulting penalty stroke.

Thailand would pull a goal back off a penalty corner, with two castles causing confusion in the SA defence as the ball was drilled in at the near post (3-2). A mix-up in the South African defence led to a penalty stroke that was dispatched to level the match at 3-3. Sarah Paget guessed the right way but the finish was too strong.

Now, that’s how you mark your debut! A goal within 20 seconds of the first whistle as Thailand comes blasting out of the gates at #IHWC2025

Stream all the matches here: https://t.co/OVLLn1NxX9@asia_hockey #IndoorHockey pic.twitter.com/6FwK8dg9iq

— International Hockey Federation (@FIH_Hockey) February 3, 2025

Thailand goalkeeper Somlak Suttiprapa, who was named player of the match, made a crucial save off a South African penalty corner. But she was powerless to stop a Jessica Lardant effort off another penalty corner.

The South African team appeared to be finishing strongly. However, Paget’s tackle on a Thai attacker would gift them a penalty flick that was planted into the side netting, despite the keeper again going the right way.

The Asian champs, who picked up two green cards in the match, would survive the late pressure. They had the goalkeeper, and frame of the goal, to thank for securing a share of the spoils.

“I think that was a very frustrating performance,” SA head coach AJ Spieringshoek admitted afterwards. “We looked really good on transition, we looked really good on the counter-attack but we just made small errors here and there that a team like Thailand capitalised on.

“I think we have to do better (and I’m) very disappointed that they had a player off the field on two occasions and we concede a goal. We were the man up, so that’s something that is inexcusable and we’ve got to do better.

“I think we lacked a little bit more fight than we expected. You play a team like Thailand and they’re always in your face, they’re an opportunist team so they sit back and wait for it, and once they get it they take their chances.

“Positive that we scored four goals but also negative that we conceded four. I think obviously in hindsight one point is a good thing but it does feel like a loss for us. But I hope it’s the kickstart we need because we’ve got two really, really tough games going forward: Austria tomorrow, a rest day and then Poland,” he concluded.