The Drakenstein Valley can boast with a world class team, after the Boland Foxes Indoor Hockey u-11 boys team came home with gold after taking part in the u-11 Indoor Champ of Champs 2023.
The Foxes were invited to take part in this junior tournament which was played in Pretoria earlier this month during the FIH (International Hockey Federation) Indoor Hockey 2023 World Cup after they were placed third at the Pro Series Indoor Nationals last year.
The World Cup Indoor Hockey was a first for South Africa on home turf.
Travelling from the Boland to Gauteng was an adventure of its own, for some, even a first time flying! The boys had a great time building team spirit as they had only two practice sessions two weeks prior to touring.
The team was accompanied by their coach, Carl Cooper, well-known in indoor circles and manager/assistant coach and Fox mom Thandi Buckle.
Not only were the players excited to play against the best of the best in South Africa, but they had the privilege to watch and support the men and women in green and gold as well as all the international indoor hockey seniors playing for the 2023 World Cup.
To crown everything the Boland Foxes were undefeated in the play-offs:
Foxes 1-0 Stallions (Gauteng)
Foxes 3-2 Cranes (Namibia)
Foxes 7-0 Mambas (Durban)
Foxes 1-1 Titans (Tshwane)
Foxes 5-1 Sables (Southern Cape)
In the finals, playing for the gold medal, the Foxes took on the Sables, with the Foxes winning by a whopping 6-2 and walking away with a well-deserved and momentous victory!
Without the Boland Foxes franchise owner, Bruce Jacobs, this opportunity would not have been possible. A huge thank you to him as well as our sponsors, 3ladsandatucan and Charles Lang & Sons, for making the Boland Foxes boys u-11 dreams come true!
From the SA Gold winners u-11 Boys division, a big congratulations to the Austria men and the Netherlands women for winning the 2023 Indoor Hockey World Cup!
