Hockey women a 'work in progress'

South African women's hockey coaching consultant Ian Jennings believes the national outfit are a "work in progress".

Addressing the media shortly after SA's Spar Cup triumph in Johannesburg, the former Great Britain international spoke frankly about the deficiencies in the team, six months ahead of the Olympic Games in Beijing.

Jennings said the South Africans were not playing to their true potential.

Last week the team completed a tournament against Russia and Canada.

The Canadians prevented a clean sweep for the hosts when they drew 1-1 with SA in the final game, which exposed a shortage of quality strikers in the national team, along with disorganisation at their penalty corner set pieces.

"I don't think the players have pushed themselves hard enough, because they haven't unlocked their true potential. They haven't kicked on mentally to the next level," he said.

Jennings holds the record for the most goals scored in the English Super League and retired at 43 after a knee injury.

His girlfriend is world hockey and Australian legend Nicky Hudson and, when Jennings turns 47 on March 10, it will be on the start of the national team's training camp in Stellenbosch.

"We are going to push the girls physically, because they need to get in better shape if they hope to compete with the best in the world.

This isn't going to be just fitness, running up and down hills, but it is going to include a lot of stick work. We are also going to do some other exercises to improve their mental toughness."

"I think something they need to learn is to stop worrying about the other players around them and to take responsibility for their positions," he said.

Meanwhile, the KwaZulu-Natal Raiders teams won the men's and women's interprovincial indoor tournament in Pietermartizburg at the weekend.