Robin van Ginkel, head coach of South Africa, looks forward to his team’s encounter with India in the last pool game of the Olympic women’s hockey competition. His team is out of the running with four defeats but India can make the quarterfinals with a victory after securing their first against Ireland on Friday.
“We came to the Olympics as lowest-ranked and underdogs. Besides, every team is professional. So, our first objective was to be competitive,” he said.
“Our last international match was in March 2020 and it’s difficult to play in these circumstances but we have loved the opportunity.
“Results have not gone our way in our first four matches but we have played to the best of our ability and we now look forward to playing India,” Van Ginkel said.
On the team’s preparations, he said: “We have had camps during which we have built the girls’ fitness but we need games. We played a few matches against men’s teams but we could have done with some international matches.”
About the campaign in Tokyo, Van Ginkel said: “We have defended well against the top teams. But we haven’t executed our penalty corners particularly well.
“We have defended a lot and have felt the script and we know we have to score when you can,” the head coach added.
Van Ginkel knows a thing or two about India after spending time on the coaching panel with HIL team Delhi Waveriders for three years.
He has a high opinion of Indian hockey, especially the men’s team. “Your men’s team has come through a very good program. I will be now be supporting them (South Africa went out of the race) and I hope they win a medal. They have the ability to do so,” Van Ginkel said.
“The Indian ladies can also make the quarterfinals if they beat us. It is the last pool game for both and will be tough. It will all depend on fitness and taking chances when you get them,” he concluded.