Star-studied Central Hockey Club won the Belgotex Elite Club Challenge (BECC) hockey tournament for the second consecutive year in KZN this past weekend.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the BECC tournament was hosted at the Riverside Hockey Club, with eight men’s and eight women’s teams participating.

In 2023, Central made headlines by clinching the men’s title. This year, they did it again, in fine style, backed by two individual awards, as well as SA Olympic team call-ups.

Central beat local rivals WPCC Hockey in an epic finale on Saturday afternoon. They had to come back from a 3-2 trail, to win 4-3, in the last minute of the match.

On the road to the final, Central were unbeaten in the group stages, winning three out of three. They had not scored less than four goals in any of their matches either.

In the opening match they beat Kearsney Hockey Club 8-1, followed by a 7-5 win against Beaulieu. In the last group stage match, they thumped Wanderers first 8-2.

WPCC Hockey had not conceded a single goal throughout the tournament before meeting Central in the final. They beat Pretoria Boys’ High School’s Old Boys’ 6-0, followed by a 5-0 win over Morningside Country Club and a 2-0 win over Riverside, before meeting Central.

Central’s manager, Greg Williams said they were invited back to the tournament as champions. “We were fortunate to have three of our SA players available. It was a mix of experience and school kids. They were fired up to defend the trophy,” he said.

SA Hockey announced the men’s and women’s teams to represent South Africa at the Paris Summer Olympic Games in August. Nine of Central’s players made the squad.

With 70 caps to his name, Dayaan Cassiem will lead the men's squad as captain. He is joined by teammates, Andrew Hobson, Julius Ryan, Mustapha Cassiem, alongside the most capped player in the squad, Keenan Horne (106).

In the women's team, Quanitta Bobbs will make a return to the national team, while teammates, Ntsopa Mokoena, Tahiera Augousti and Kayla Swarts make an Olympic debut.

Williams said the Olympians will represent the club, their community and the green and gold well, in France.

Top goal scorer of the tournament, Reuben Sendzul lifting the Belgotex Elite Challenge trophy after scoring a brace, including the winning goal, in the last minute of the final match, against WPCC, clinching the final 4-3. Picture: Belgotex Sport

SA Hockey player, Ryan Julies in jovial spirits with his teammates from Central Hockey Club. They won the Belgotex Elite Club Challenge hockey tournament for the second year in a row this past weekend in KZN. Picture: Belgotex Sport

In an epic Belgotex Elite Club Challenge final, WPCC Hockey’s Damian Knott, left, and Central’s Dayaan Cassiem, contest for the ball. Central won 4-3. Cassiem will lead the SA Hockey team at the Paris Summer Olympics in August. Picture: Belgotex Sport

Nine players from Central Hockey Club will represent SA at the Paris Olympics in August.

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