Africa’s indoor hockey giants to face off
Namibia is to host South Africa for the indoor hockey international test series. The two nations are Africa’s highest-ranked indoor hockey teams and are set to face off in a five-match Test Series at the Sports Facilitation Centre in Windhoek from 9 to 11 October 2026.
The Namibia Hockey Union (NHU) confirmed that several experienced players have returned to the squad, including Jahntwa Kruger, Jivanka Kruger and Gillian Hermanus. The strengthened squad will be coached by Shayne Cormack.
According to NHU Vice President Tunomwaameni Epafras, the team has been preparing well in advance and is ready for the three-day series.
The series will serve as preparation for the 2026 Nkosi Cup held in Cape Town, South Africa, in December and the Indoor Africa Cup set for the World Cup Qualifiers.
The series will also give both teams an opportunity to compete in a high-level international contest while providing supporters in Windhoek with the chance to watch two of Africa’s leading indoor hockey sides on home soil.
With Namibia’s strong performance at the 2025 International Hockey Federation (FIH) Indoor Hockey World Cup in Poreč, Croatia, where the women’s indoor hockey team finished 6th with 1 260 points, while South Africa is finished nineth with 1 225 points at the same competition, makes this a tough test.
NKOSI Cup encounter
The two nations also competed at the third edition of the annual international indoor hockey tournament, NKOSI Cup last December, where South Africa topped the podium with first place followed by Australia, taking second and Namibia trailing closely behind in the third spot.
Epafras said the results should not be expected to mirror those matches, highlighting that the team was not as developed as the current squad.
“Namibia went to Nkosi cup with an emerging team, of course South Africa was better at that tournament...I believe both teams are equally becoming better and better,” Epafras said.
Namibia will play five Tests against South Africa, with the opening match scheduled for 18:00 on Friday, 9 October. Two matches will follow on Saturday at 11:00 and 18:00, before the final two Tests on Sunday at 10:00 and 16:00.
The five-match format means the teams will have several opportunities to assess their performances throughout the series, rather than relying on the result of a single encounter. Tickets will be sold at the gate.
The final squad comprises of 13 members namely:
Petro Stoffberg, Anri Jacobs, Amber Dercksen, Leila Grogli, Tamara Grogli, Gillian Hermanus, Ottilie Hinda, Jahntwa Kruger, Sunelle Pretorius, Marika Neethling, Azaylee Philander, Abigail Rowles and Jivanka Kruger.
