Pirates best in inline hockey

SWAKOPMUND’S Coastal Pirates were heaped in gold last weekend as the Namibian Ice and Inline Hockey Association (NIIHA) 2005 league drew to a dramatic close.

The club from the coast beat off challenges from Germany, South Africa, Botswana and other Namibian teams to take first place in all six divisions from 10&U to Men’s Open. Only the Women’s and Masters divisions eluded them.These went to Windhoek clubs Badgers and Cazadores respectively.In an adrenalin-driven four-day tournament, featuring 40 teams and 86 games, inline hockey fans were treated to some of the best inline action yet seen in Namibia.Particularly impressive was Friday night’s ‘big game’ between the Namibian national team (fresh from its first appearance at the July Inline World Championships in Finland) and an ‘All Stars’ team made up of international coaches from Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany, plus experienced players from the visiting German and South African teams.The national team proved that it had taken Namibian inline hockey onto a new plane of skill and professionalism, generally outclassing the ‘All Stars’ with a mature blend, tactical know-how and inspired play, which kept the crowd spellbound for almost an hour.With the score standing at 3-2 to the Namibian team two minutes from time, the ‘All Stars’ took advantage of Namibia’s one lapse of concentration as the youngsters grew tired.But it was only their accumulated years of international experience that enabled the ‘All Starts’ to snatch an eleventh-hour equaliser through Canadian Philippe Boudreault and tie the match at 3-3.Another top-notch game in the Men’s Open division took place between the Coastal Pirates and archrivals Cazadores from Windhoek.Just one goal divided the teams after a hard-fought battle, presided over by International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) referee Joachim Marx.The Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the first half, which they battled to retain against a determined onslaught from the Windhoek team.The bigger-than-ever annual tournament, played for the first time on a recently bought sports court, attracted an unprecedented crowd.Would-be spectators spilled out of the packed stands and into the tournament tent as everyone jostled for seats.Next year’s tournament should present no such problems, however.A purpose-built sports centre, equipped with a full-sized international inline rink, changing facilities and adequate seating for spectators, is scheduled for completion in Swakopmund by the middle of 2006.The 2006 Coastal Pirates tournament is also expected to continue this year’s trend of attracting high-quality entries from overseas and the southern African region.Guests of honour this year were two teams from Germany’s Bissendorfer Panthers, which took home bronze medals in the Men’s Open division and the 16-and-under division.South Africa’s brightest hope was a crack 18-and-under squad made up from three teams in the Cape.The Piranhas improved with each performance and fielded some impressive individual players.Eventually they had to settle for silver however, after losing the key match to a fitter, more focused Coastal Pirates team.Only the Women’s and Masters divisions eluded them.These went to Windhoek clubs Badgers and Cazadores respectively.In an adrenalin-driven four-day tournament, featuring 40 teams and 86 games, inline hockey fans were treated to some of the best inline action yet seen in Namibia.Particularly impressive was Friday night’s ‘big game’ between the Namibian national team (fresh from its first appearance at the July Inline World Championships in Finland) and an ‘All Stars’ team made up of international coaches from Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and Germany, plus experienced players from the visiting German and South African teams.The national team proved that it had taken Namibian inline hockey onto a new plane of skill and professionalism, generally outclassing the ‘All Stars’ with a mature blend, tactical know-how and inspired play, which kept the crowd spellbound for almost an hour.With the score standing at 3-2 to the Namibian team two minutes from time, the ‘All Stars’ took advantage of Namibia’s one lapse of concentration as the youngsters grew tired.But it was only their accumulated years of international experience that enabled the ‘All Starts’ to snatch an eleventh-hour equaliser through Canadian Philippe Boudreault and tie the match at 3-3.Another top-notch game in the Men’s Open division took place between the Coastal Pirates and archrivals Cazadores from Windhoek.Just one goal divided the teams after a hard-fought battle, presided over by International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) referee Joachim Marx.The Pirates took a 2-1 lead in the first half, which they battled to retain against a determined onslaught from the Windhoek team.The bigger-than-ever annual tournament, played for the first time on a recently bought sports court, attracted an unprecedented crowd.Would-be spectators spilled out of the packed stands and into the tournament tent as everyone jostled for seats.Next year’s tournament should present no such problems, however.A purpose-built sports centre, equipped with a full-sized international inline rink, changing facilities and adequate seating for spectators, is scheduled for completion in Swakopmund by the middle of 2006.The 2006 Coastal Pirates tournament is also expected to continue this year’s trend of attracting high-quality entries from overseas and the southern African region.Guests of honour this year were two teams from Germany’s Bissendorfer Panthers, which took home bronze medals in the Men’s Open division and the 16-and-under division.South Africa’s brightest hope was a crack 18-and-under squad made up from three teams in the Cape.The Piranhas improved with each performance and fielded some impressive individual players.Eventually they had to settle for silver however, after losing the key match to a fitter, more focused Coastal Pirates team.