Mutual Hockey Club ignited the night with a 6-1 victory over Fish Hoek Hockey Club at the UCT Astroturf in a Western Province Hockey Union (WPHU) Ladies Promotional League match on Friday May 10.

Head coach, Matt Storti’s passion for hockey was unmatched as he shouted across the field tactical instructions to his young Mutual team.

“Fantastic result against Fish Hoek on Friday night. Six goals. We went 1-0 down and showed great character to come back 6-1. We executed everything we worked on during the week. Our game plan was good. We ticked the box we wanted to tick today. We are happy with the three points,” he said.

Storti said Mutual’s ability to rally back into the game, with unyielding spirit to seize victory, was a result of a hard week in training – for the match against Fish Hoek – and for the goal of playing in the illustrious WPHU Grand Challenge.

“It’s incredible. We’ve got a couple of very young and exciting players that have come to join us. Our goal is to get to the Grand Challenge in the next two to three years. To be competing at the top level… tonight was a step in that direction for us,” said Storti.

Mutual are fifth on the log, with eight points after two wins, two draws and two losses.

Mutual drew 2-2 against UCT this past Saturday, May 18. Their next fixture is against third-placed Stellenberg (11 points), who will look to bounce back from a 7-0 defeat to log leaders Durbanville (12 points).

Down the right wing, Chumile Raziya had a good game against Fish Hoek women’s first team. They won 6-1. Picture: Lonwabo Marele

Vice-chairperson of Mutual, Courtnay Meek is impressed by the momentum her ladies’ side is beginning to pick up.

“Our season started off a bit slow. We had a few new members as compared to last year so it took a little longer to gel as a team. But I think we are slowly coming together and today really showed that, we played well together. We have quite a few youngsters who are 15, 16, 17, who are just starting out in club hockey,” she said.

Meek has been at Mutual for more than 11 years as a player and now as the vice-chairperson.

“I have been playing consistently since I was 21 back in Pinelands. We have a lot of people who played for the club for 15 to 20 years so we have a lot of club spirit. It is more like a family. The club is for everyone,” she said.

“Club hockey in Cape Town is really welcoming. Even if you are playing at school level or haven’t played for years. We have multiple different levels of hockey. We welcome everyone to come and play. If you want to keep fit or to be social, it is the perfect place. Come down,” she said.

Despite a tough evening against Mutual, Fish Hoek drew 1-1 against Langa this past Saturday, May 18.

Fish Hoek’s coach, Olu Ncukana is determined to get their first win of the season when they face another battling side, Paarl Hockey Club, on Saturday, May 25.

“Tough evening. Not easy coming out on a Friday night. But all round, a good exercise in terms of the processes we are putting in together, to progress to the end of the season,” he said.

Coach Ncukana believes, if they stick to their plan of putting in the effort, success will soon follow.

“It is about trusting the things we do at training, trusting the processes and working hard every week. Once we stick to the processes then we will be on the right track,” said Ncukana.

Mutual Hockey Club’s Genevieve van de Walt drives the ball forward during her side’s 6-1 win against Fish Hoek, at UCT, on Friday May 10. Pictures: Lonwabo Marele

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