The South African women’s hockey team has been withdrawn from the Africa Games without even playing a game. The event is currently taking place in Ghana where Team SA is putting on some impressive performances and hauling in the medals. However, the hockey women won’t be able to show their skills in the 13th Games in Accra from 8-23 March 2024.
According to a statement from SASCOC, their withdrawal is based on recommendations and guidelines as set down by the International Hockey Federation (FIH). This comes after the surface they were set to play on was not sufficiently prepared to stage the competition, despite getting assurances that the pitches would be ready for international-standard competition.
“Over and above making this decision, our SA Hockey Federation consulted with Sports Flooring Warehouse, a South African-based specialist in carpet laying, and an FIH recognised service provider. They have also advised us – having analysed the images we shared with them – that the field is not satisfactory, and may cause harm to the athletes,” said LOC, Team SA team leader Patience Shikwambana.
“The rescheduling of the hockey competition, on three numerous occasions has, in addition, caused an inconvenience to us logistically, as a team, where we had to arrange for both the teams to fly to Ghana in time for the commencement of the competition.”
“In the first Chef De Missions’ site visit meeting at the end of October 2023, we were advised that there would be test events to ensure the readiness of venues before the start of each competition. This, unfortunately, has not been the case for Hockey,” said Shikwambana.
“In addition, according to the FIH field certification guideline, ‘If a field that is not certified is being considered as a tournament venue, it should be tested at the earliest convenience to demonstrate compliance with this specification’. These tests should be conducted months in advance before a competition – which, in this case, have not taken place.
“Furthermore, ‘The FIH has several accredited test institutes, and these have accredited engineers located around the world’, which we are not certain if they have been involved and provided the necessary certification.”
The South African women’s hockey team will be at the Olympic Games later this year and playing on such a surface could cause injury and might jeopardise players’ participation in Paris, the statement read.
File Photo: The South African senior women’s field hockey team in this file photo ahead of their third home Test against France, an element of the home sides’ build-up to the 2024 Paris Summer Games. The South African women’s hockey has been withdrawn from the Africa Games without playing a game, following advice that the playing surface set for competition has been deemed ‘not satisfactory’, and poses a risk of harm to athletes ahead of the Paris 2024 Summer Games. Photo: (c) Ray Chaplin www.raychaplin.photography
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