Somerset West Hockey Club’s first team star Ongeziwe Mali drives forward for the South African women’s hockey team during their FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup clash against Japan at Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands on Friday 21 August.

The South African women’s team finished 14th overall after a tough campaign in Pool D and a narrow loss in the 13th-place playoff. Competing across joint host nations Belgium and the Netherlands, both the SA men’s and women’s sides delivered high-drama performances on the global stage.

The South African men’s team wrapped up their tournament with a hard-fought 12th-place finish. The pinnacle of their high-octane campaign came in a placement match against Pakistan.

Striker Mustapha Cassiem spearheaded the African champions’ attack, netting a phenomenal brace. Despite a fierce comeback, which saw the game end in a thrilling 4-4 deadlock at the final whistle, SA ultimately suffered heartbreaking defeat in the subsequent penalty shootout. Photo: Jan van Zyl