South Africa favourites for WSWS qualifier

It’s been a tough couple of years for South Africa. Despite looking the strongest team at the2015 WSWS qualifier in Dublinthey fell in the semi-finals to Ireland. Then, despite qualifying for the Rio Olympics they were denied a place by their own Olympic NOC because they had not qualified directly through the World Series – a wildly unrealistic requirement as they would have had to finish in the top four. That, in turn, denied them a chance to qualify for this year’s World Series, as qualification was via the placings in the Games.

So now, after a gap of two years, the South Africans at last have a chance to put things right.

Renfred Dazel is coach, with several familiar names from their last appearance in the World Series, including the awesome Phumeza Gadu, Zenay Jordaan, Mathrun Simmers and Marthy Pienaar. This is also the team that reached the quarter-finals in Dubai after beating the USA on the way.

No other team has a recent record quite as good as this, but it is not a foregone conclusion. Japan were a core team last season, giving them far the most experienced squad, and along with Colombia and Kenya were both at Rio Olympics, and Argentina played in the last round of the World Series.

And then there is the Netherlands. Anne Hielckert leads a team withseveral familiar namesfrom their World Series days, including the return of Chris Lane as coach. That said, their luck has not changed as they find themselves as in by far the toughest looking pool in the tournament with Japan, China and Jamaica.

A reminder of the pool draw:

Pool A: Japan; China; Netherlands; Jamaica

Pool B: Argentina; Kenya; Hong Kong; Belgium

Pool C: South Africa; Colombia; Papua New Guinea; Italy

The quarter-final draw of this tournament also does not favour Pool A, but follows the former World Series system.

Tournament fixtures

Squads