Old Oaks are widely sown in district sides

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KNYSNA NEWS AND GALLERY - A number of hockey players from Knysna, and Old Oaks Knysna Hockey Club in particular, have been selected for the district teams for the upcoming men's and women's SA Country Districts (SACD) tournaments.

According to the SACD Facebook page, the term "Country Districts" refers to the areas of South Africa that fall outside of the major metropolitan areas.

SACD is an annual tournament where teams from regions all over the country compete.

PHOTO GALLERY: Knysna Hockey players at the top

While there is fierce competition on the field, the Country Districts hockey community is known for the importance it places upon good old-fashioned sportsmanship.

Individuals who excel in service to the Country Districts community are also recognised by being invited to become members of the Griffons Hockey Club - a club that gets together once a year at the SACD tournament to play one match against an invitation side.

Furthermore, players who excel at their respective SACD tournaments (men or women) are selected for an SACD team that goes on to take part in a national inter-provincial tournament (IPT). There they compete against teams representing regional hockey unions from around the country, including those from major metropolitan areas.

The Eden hockey teams have always made their mark at these tournaments, with the men's team winning on 12 occasions and the women once.

There is typically a healthy contingent from Knysna in these teams and 2022 proves no different.

Nic Olivier is one of the Old Oaks in the A team.

In the women's team, Old Oaks players Donné, Charné and Carla de Wet will be flying the local flag high at the Women's SACD Tournament in Durban from 3 to 9 July.

The men's Eden SACD side will not only be vying for its 13th title, but will be doing so on home soil, as the Men's SACD Tournament will take place in George from 9 to 16 July.

This has also allowed Eden Hockey to enter not just one, but two sides for the tournament.

Included in these two sides are 11 Old Oaks (and by extension Knysna) hockey players.

In the Eden A team Darren Kamfer, Stuart Daniel, Sean Mackenzie, Lyle Katzen, Nic Olivier and Wanda Mtshilibe will represent Old Oaks, with fellow Old Oaks Nigel Leverton and Marc van Staden serving as the coach and manager of the side, respectively.

Member of Plett Hockey Club Byron Shrosbree has also been selected for the Eden A team. In the Eden B team Mandi Phantsi, Jacques Potgieter, Alan Gerber and Sibo Kalani make up the Knysna contingent with Plettonian Lumko Maart.Charné de Wet is one of three Old Oaks ladies in the Eden SACD ladies team. Photos: Blake Linder