South Africa’s hockey team will compete in the FIH Hockey World Cup from February 5-11 at the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria. Coach Justin Rosenberg has challenged his team to get off to a fast start.
The sixth edition of the worldwide competition will be hosted for the first time outside of Europe, and Rosenberg wants his team to take advantage of their home field advantage.
Rosenberg stated, “I believe the seventh player [supporters] we have sitting in the stands can be a decisive factor in our favor.”
“Also, since the majority of European indoor games are played in the winter, some of the teams may have to acclimate to temperatures in Pretoria that can reach the mid-thirties.
“Of course, we are aware that they will quickly adjust, which is why we must use it to our advantage in the early rounds.”
Ama Stokke Stokke, as the team is commonly known, won a three-match Test series against Namibia 3-0 in December in Cape Town.
Rosenberg stated that his players are thrilled as the World Cup draws near.
“Our motto is ‘one team, one dream,’ and if we can get the support of the entire nation, it will help us reach our ultimate objective.
“If you consider how the PSI [Pro Series Indoor] program has become the pinnacle of indoor hockey, along with certain smaller tournaments becoming the feeder events, this is the ideal opportunity to generate enthusiasm among the enormous pool of 17- to 24-year-old players. This can serve us well over the next few years.”
Rosenberg said that his team’s objective is to qualify for the major playoffs and finish in the top three in their pool.
Team South Africa is placed in Pool B with Argentina, Australia, the Czech Republic, Iran, and the United States, while the defending champions, Austria, are placed in Pool A with Belgium, Kazakhstan, Namibia, and the Netherlands.