Five-star Mustapha Cassiem dazzles as SA continue Nkosi Cup charge

SA’s indoor hockey star Mustapha Cassiem highlighted his status as arguably the best indoor hockey player in the world right now with a thrilling five-goal blitz against the US in their second Nkosi Cup pool match at the Wynberg Military Base Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday that showed off his vast array of skills.

He displayed his predatory skills in the opening two minutes, pouncing on a rebound off a shot by older brother and skipper Dayaan Cassiem, and was equally lethal off penalty corners. 

But the young player, named Player of the Tournament at the Indoor World Cup earlier this year where SA secured a historic bronze medal, saved the best for last … a roundhouse flick that fizzed past standout US goalkeeper Amar Singh and into the roof of the net from the right of the D.

The delighted star punched the air in satisfaction after finally giving home fans a taste of what fans in Croatia had feasted on earlier in the year. Fellow World Cup star Hans Neethling also got in on the act, with Dayaan again providing the assist.

The five goals on day two took Mustapaha’s tally to seven, after he netted a brace in the opening 5-1 win against New Zealand on Friday for the two-time defending champions.

“I think it was a really good USA team – really structured. I think at the start we’re trying to find our rhythm building up into the tournament. But towards the end some really nice goals, some brilliant team goals, which I think was good,” Mustapha said in his post-match television interview.

“We have some new guys coming through since the World Cup, sowe’re trying to build and create rhythm. I think we find ourselves back into it at  the end but two clinical goals and it’s super-important to get the three points.”

But for the heroics of Singh in goal for the US – he made close to 20 saves – the scoreline could have looked far worse for the visitors.

“We were much better than yesterday,” coach Justin Rosenburg said. “Things are starting to come together. Obviously the last time we played together before yesterday was 10 months ago, but again by sticking to the processes we got a couple of better outcomes today. 

“We were a bit tentative in chukka one and two, but we started putting some nice connections together and scored some really clinical team goals.”

The SA women were hoping to build on an impressive 7-0 win over New Zealand in their opening match when they took on Australia in the evening matches. The Aussie women had begun their tournament with a 13-1 thrashing of Zimbabwe earlier in the day, while their men slipped to a surprise 4-3 defeat against New Zealand in their opener.

Defending women’s champions Namibia beat New Zealand 7-3 as they continued to push for a third title in a row.