Ntuthuko Maphumulo hockey
South African hockey is set to bounce back from the disappointments of last year when the men’s senior side did not go to the Sydney Olympics with a feast of national and international competition this year and next.
South African Hockey Association (Saha) president Charles Smith denied that a lack of players of colour in the team was the reason for the veto from the National Olympic Committee of South Africa (Nocsa). He said the team did not meet Nocsa’s qualifying criteria.
Nine national team players decided to retire from the sport because of the Olympic row, but new coach Rob Pullen has been able to persuade four of them to return.
The sport got a R2-million boost from Nedbank this week for development, the men’s national team and junior and senior interprovincial tournaments.
The under-21 women’s team will be participating in the women’s junior world cup in Argentina and the men’s under-21 team will go to the men’s junior world cup in August in Australia this year.
The highlight for local supporters, however, is the announcement of a Test series against Italy next month in Potchefstroom and at Randburg sports complex. Pullen said he expects to win the series, but “will not take Italy for granted after we drew with them two years ago”.
Pullen hopes to produce great players and the talking will be done in
the field. The coach would like a league developed in order to ensure
development of players into the national teams.