HOCKEY
Deon Potgieter in Kuala Lumpur
The 10th men’s World Cup in Kuala Lumpur will be remembered for the fierce competitive spirit displayed by all the teams.
No quarter has been given and even those nations not yet in the top league have played their hearts out in an attempt to be recognised as equals. There have been many nail-biting moments in several intensely fought matches.
From a South African perspective the highlight of the tournament must be Justin King’s sensational match-saving goal against Spain on Saturday, with less than a minute left in the match. Spain, who looked to be a shoo-in to the semifinals with a 2-1 lead, were stunned by a scene resembling the ending of a feel-good Hollywood sports movie.
Malaysian umpire Amirjit Singh awarded South Africa a penalty in the dying seconds of the game. As King stepped up to take the shot, the final hooter sounded and died off only after the ball hit the back of the net.
The South Africans are criticised in their home country, and it must be a heavy load for the players to carry when they see the support afforded the other hockey-playing nations.
Images of the host nation’s players adorn a number of products in the local supermarkets and the tournament is hyped by television promotions resembling those reserved for soccer and rugby tournaments back home.
Crowds of 8 000-plus flocked to the games, even when the host nation wasn’t playing. What has been apparent is that for a sport to prosper it needs support and encouragement.
The Malaysian team was not expected to do better than a top-four position in the World Cup, yet they were represented as possible world champions, not unlike Bafana Bafana have been in their quest for honours on the soccer field.
Given the overall impressive performances delivered in this tournament, it’s hoped that the decision to cull the next World Cup to 12 teams is reversed and the current format of 16 teams is kept in place. It makes little sense to reduce the representation of any world cup. For a sport to flourish and grow, it needs not just the support of the public but the support of those who administer it.