The Super Sport website has reported that the South African women’s hockey squad departed for Argentina on Sunday, to play a Four-Nations Invitational in Mendoza starting on Friday, as part of their Olympic preparations.
Also playing will be Germany and the United States in the five-day tournament, which is one of several lined up for the squad to prepare for the Beijing Olympic Games in mid-August.
All three opposition teams are ranked higher than twelfth-placed South Africa, with hosts Argentina in second place above third-ranked Germany, while the USA is ranked in 11th place internationally.
"The team’s Olympic dream is still very much alive," the pay television’s website quotes South African coach Jenny King. "We’re confident that we’ll be given the thumbs up by SASCOC. Our performances in the past 12 months reflect that we deserve to be in Beijing.
"We have qualified and there’s not much more the team can do. We’ve done everything that’s been expected of us. We just hope to win all our matches in the time leading up to the Games."
On their return from Argentina, the squad will face Canada in a home test series, before further away matches against opposition including Azerbaijan, England and Ireland.
Hosts Argentina are world ranked at No 2, while Germany and United States are in Nos 3 and 11 respectively. South Africa are in 12th position.
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