South Africa’s women began their campaign at the inaugural FIH Nations Cup 2 in Gniezno, Poland, with a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay. The game signalled the start of a new era under head coach Inky Zondi.
The match also marked several other important milestones. Defender Hannah Pearce celebrated her 50th cap, while three players – Shanna Medonca, Daniella de Oliveira, and Cerian Fourie – earned their senior international debuts.
Uruguay took control early on, with Manuela Vilar proving to be the difference, striking twice in the first half with well-taken goals that gave the South Americans a grip on the match. South Africa were unable to find their rhythm in the attacking third and struggled to convert possession into genuine scoring opportunities.
To their credit, South Africa showed greater composure in the second half, shoring up defensively and producing several promising moments going forward. But Uruguay’s disciplined defence held firm, and South Africa were unable to mount a comeback.
With the opening match now behind them, attention turns to the next challenge – a must-perform clash against Malaysia.
