Mangaung, South Africa, December 11, 2014 - Grant Goldschmidt and Leo Williams saved the day for South Africa at the FIVB World Tour Beach Volleyball Mangaung Open on Thursday. With all the other South African teams already out they made it to the last 16 in Bloemfontein.
On top of that Goldschmidt and Williams gave the audience on centre court a perfect show with entertaining and spectacular beach volleyball. In two sets - the first was a real thriller - they defeated Norway’s Iver Andreas Horrem and Geir Eithun: 24-22, 21-11.
“All the teams were out, the ladies were out and we were the only ones remaining”, Goldschmidt said. “But I was sure we stood a good chance against them, obviously they are a bit more experienced, but we’re slightly younger and got a bit more drive.”
That drive got them the win in the first set. It was point-by-point all the way until Norway got a set point at 19-20 and another one at 20-21. But Goldschmidt kept getting the side-out and at 22-21 the South Africans got a setpoint of their own. Norway managed to ward that one off, but on the next South African set point one of the Norwegians hit the ball out.
Goldschmidt and Grant immediately took a 4-0 lead in the second and Horrem and Eithun could not keep up anymore. At 19-11 Williams served an ace and the game ended with a Norwegian setting error.
“Obviously us winning the first set had a big psychological effect on them”, Williams said. “They expected it would be a little easier because they don’t know us. But we knew if we stuck with them and just play our best then we should be able to compete with them at least. It was always our goal to at least play on Friday, which is tomorrow. We are psyched that we got through, it’s unbelievable.”
Reaching to the last 16 on a World Tour event is a first for both players. Goldschmidt: “Three wins in a row, that is our best result ever. Probably for South Africa as well.”
The 31-year old Olympian who finished 19th at the 2012 London Olympic Games with Freedom Chiya was targeted a lot by the Norwegians, but he handled it perfectly.
“The guy was a good blocker. I don’t know if he even knew my favourite angle was angle”, Goldschmidt joked. “But I mean, I was hitting a lot. It was at the slightly closer sets that he got me. I just kept on looking what they were doing and got a few cut shots as well. After I got into it, I was more confident and more comfortable hitting.”
Williams: “I was just playing a supporting role and trying to do the best at that. But there was a lot of pressure on him obviously and I just tried to make sure I give him a good set and cover him, cause that guy is massive. He is the biggest blocker we ever played against. So I think when we won that first set it took a lot away from them and when we started well in the second set as well they couldn’t came back.”
These events are very important to the South African players, Goldschmidt said. “I am really glad we managed to get another Open here in South Africa. So a lot of our teams can play as well. We have a monthly competition now, so we keep on building. Hopefully we can spend more time on the World Tour, it will give us some more international experience and some funding. We are struggling with funding at the moment. But if that comes through, we really want to get on the World Tour and play more.”
The South African teams got a lot of support from the local people, who were cheering in the stands of the Rose Garden stadium. Their support means a lot to Williams.
“It’s the first time we play beach volleyball in this area. It is obviously a huge thing to have this event, because we can improve playing these tournaments. It’s also exposure for the people here, I saw a lot of people cheering for the Africans, which is a really good thing. And I think we are getting them closer and reeling them in by winning. Everybody loves a winner. South African sports fans are really tough, they hate losing, so no one will support you if you lose. So I am expecting a lot more people tomorrow.”