Accra, July 10, GNA - Ghana's National Hockey team, the Black Sticks suffered by a humiliating 8-0 loss to their South African counterparts in one of the opening games of the 2009 Africa Hockey Cup for Nations, played at the National Hockey Stadium, Accra on Friday. The South Africans who are the continent's number one, were dominant throughout the entire 70 minute encounter with the Ghanaians just no match for the visitors despite their two week tour in the Netherlands before the start of the tournament.

Playing with a well defined game plan by relying on long and swift passes, the South Africans took the lead as early as the third minute when Reid-Ross Justine scooped in a short corner executed by Thomas Hammond.

Reid-Ross increased the tally in the 18th minute when he again connected a short corner laid on his path by Carr Garreth and from the dominance of the South Africans it was obvious Ghana was heading for a total humiliation.

The well composed and experienced South Africans by the close of the first period were in total control of the game as they proved superior in all departments of the game with accurate long passes to the admiration of the fully packed stadium.

It therefore came as no surprise when they sealed the half with the third goal through Harley Ian.

Against the expectations that the Black Sticks will redeem their image in the second half, the South Africans still continued with their submission as Norris Jones Lloyd connected a well laid pass in the "D" in the 38th minute to push the tally to four.

The South Africans increased the scores in the 40th minute through Garreth who also benefited from a short corner.

Ghana had a chance to reduce the tally when they were awarded a short corner in the 54th minute but the chance was wasted. From then it was a one sided affair as the Ghanaians could hardly swing their passes together and rather resorted to short passes and excessive dribbling which did not in anyway help them.

The South Africans scored in the 55th and 62nd, through Norris Jones with Garreth completing the goal harvest 66th minutes through Gareth to humiliate the home side.

It was a total disappointment for hockey fans and new converts as well who filled the stands to have a feel of the sport. In a match preceding the opening game, Nigeria also lost to Egypt by 2-1, after the West African team had taken an earlier lead.