Johannesburg – Goalkeeper Brenden Botes is the only EP representative in the South Africa men’s hockey team to play in the BDO Champions Challenge in Salta, Argentina, from December 6-13.

The team will be up against Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, India and New Zealand, and their goal will be to gain promotion into the 2010 Champions Trophy.

Botes was an obvious choice after his performance in the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana earlier this year where he was named goalkeeper of the tournament as SA took the title.

Austin Smith will again captain the team, while Vincent Prior, from North West, earns his first call-up to the national squad in the place of Rassie Pieterse, who is injured and will not be able to make the trip.

Jonty Robinson replaces Lungile Tsolekile who is unavailable due to work commitments.

These are the only changes from the team which achieved gold and retained their top ranking in Africa at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana.

The squad is: Paul Blake (WP), Brenden Botes (EP), Miguel da Graca (SG), Rhett Halkett (Nor), Justin Reid-Ross (NW), Gareth Carr (KZN), Lance Louw (SG), Jonty Robinson (Nor), Tommy Hammond (KZN), Ian Haley (WP), Julian Hykes (Amathole), Wade Paton (KZN), Thornton McDade (SG), Lloyd Norris-Jones (SG), Austin Smith (WP, capt), Lloyd Madsen (KZN), Vincent Prior (NW), Marvin Harper (KZN). – Sapa