Namibia concluded their best-ever marketing campaign on the Indoor Hockey World Cup when the ladies’s staff completed sixth and the boys eighth in Porec yesterday.
Namibia’s girls completed sixth after dropping 6-1 to Belgium within the sixth place play-off, whereas Namibia’s males completed eighth after dropping 5-4 to Iran within the seventh place play-off.
It was the very best ever efficiency by Namibia’s girls, beating their earlier better of ninth on the 2018 Indoor World Cup, whereas the boys matched their eighth place on the 2023 Indoor World Cup in Pretoria.
Within the girls’s match Belgium took the lead by way of a primary quarter discipline aim by Joanne Peeters, however Namibia matched all of them the way in which and going into half time it was nonetheless anybody’s recreation.
Belgium nonetheless piled on the strain to go 3-0 forward, earlier than Tara Myburgh opened Namibia’s account from a brief nook.
Any hopes of a comeback have been dashed when Belgium scored two fast objectives to go 5-1 forward by the third quarter, earlier than one other quick nook aim within the ultimate quarter sealed a 6-1 victory.
Namibia coach Shayne Cormack stated she was pleased with her gamers.
“It was a troublesome recreation, however we nonetheless ran out believing we may win it and I am actually proud of the center that our gamers confirmed – they went out believing they might do it,” she stated.
“One or two choices did not go our method, and that affected the sport a bit of. Once they have been main 1-0, they’d six gamers on the sector at a stage and usually you’ll get a brief nook, whereas they get one participant despatched off, so if we had scored in that second and really acquired the choice the rating may have been one-all and it may have modified the momentum of the sport. However Sadly, it did not go that method and that acquired in our heads a bit of bit,” she added.
“It is exhausting to return again from 5 objectives down, however nonetheless they went out attempting, and I am very pleased with them,” she stated.
Within the males’smatch, Ernest Jacobs put Namibia forward from a brief nook within the third minute, however Hamid Nooranian equalised for Iran from a brief nook on the finish of the primary quarter.
Liam Hermanus restored Namibia’s lead with a brief nook aim within the second quarter however Nooranian as soon as once more equalised for Iran from a brief nook simply earlier than halftime.
Iran turned on the screws with three objectives within the third quarter by way of Mohsen Bohlouli, Mahdi Shahokhi and Nooranian’s third to go 5-2 forward.
Namibia as soon as once more made a robust comeback with objectives by JP Britz from a brief nook and Dakota Hansen with a discipline aim, however it was not sufficient as Iran held on for a slim win.
Namibia coach Trevor Cormack stated they’re closing the hole on the highest groups.
“I believed we got here again properly from a deficit and so they needed to work exhausting in direction of the tip, however it’s at all times a privilege and an honour to play a facet like Iran. Once you come to a match like this you wish to play the very best, and they’re at present ranked second on this planet so although they have been enjoying for seventh and eighth positions, they’re nonetheless an excellent staff,” he stated.
“I m proud of the efficiency and the end result however I believe we’re at present one aim away from being a high six staff, so that is what we’ll take again from this World Cup and begin getting ready on the subsequent one,” he added.
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He stated there was a slight enchancment on their earlier efficiency when in addition they got here eighth.
“Effectively, mainly we have gone sideways, as a result of we additionally got here eighth on the final world cup, though I have to say that the outcomes have improved tremendously. We have been one aim away from the second, third and fourth ranked groups, so I believe its an enchancment however there’s nonetheless work to do.”
“I believe at present the distinction between the losses is we’re not being overly inventive. I believe we’re too cautious at the start however then when there’s nothing to lose, wecome out extra, so I believe we simply must get a bit of bit extra inventive and take dangers early on, which could repay,” he stated.
