For the primary time in African indoor hockey historical past, 4 nations will compete for the title of African Indoor Champions because the Indoor World Cup Qualifier kicks off in Swakopmund on Thursday.
Hosts Namibia, together with Botswana and Zimbabwe, will vie for a coveted place on the 2025 FIH Indoor World Cup in Porenc, Croatia. Because of the South African group’s stellar efficiency on the 2023 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Pretoria, there are actually two spots obtainable for African nations.
SPAR South Africa made historical past by changing into the primary African group to succeed in the ultimate 4 of the Indoor World Cup, securing a second spot for Africa within the girls’s match. That groundbreaking group was led by head coach Lennie Botha and captain Jess O’Connor, each of whom retired post-tournament. Now, the mantle has handed to AJ Spieringshoek and Jamie Southgate, who goal to clinch an African title that has eluded SPAR South Africa’s girls within the earlier two editions. This group is markedly totally different from the one which narrowly misplaced the ultimate at this venue in 2017, with no members from that squad remaining.
Defending champions Namibia additionally triumphed within the inaugural Kathea Power Nkosi Cup in Cape City in December, although they fell to South Africa within the Tuanku Zara Cup ultimate. Zimbabwe confirmed promise within the 2017 match, whereas Botswana is raring to display their enchancment since struggling heavy defeats within the 2022 version.
Within the males’s division, each South Africa and Namibia superior to the quarterfinals of the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup. Nonetheless, it was South Africa’s sixth-place end that secured two spots for the continent in Croatia.
South Africa, supported by Tops at SPAR, has been the dominant power in African hockey, profitable each African qualifier so far, together with the final one held at this venue. Regardless of their spectacular report in opposition to Namibia, they continue to be cautious of the menace posed by Trevor Cormack’s facet.
Zimbabwe, absent from the final version, confirmed unimaginable battle of their earlier Swakopmund look and stay a wild card attributable to their prolonged absence from worldwide matches. Botswana hopes for a greater exhibiting than in Durban as they proceed to develop as an indoor hockey nation.
The match might be live-streamed on One Up Two by way of the NTV web page right here, with updates obtainable on the South African Hockey social media pages.
Fixtures – Indoor Africa Cup 2024 – Males
23 Might 2024 – 17:00 – South Africa vs. Botswana
24 Might 2024 – 20:00 – Namibia vs. South Africa
25 Might 2024 – 11:00 – South Africa vs. Zimbabwe
26 Might 2024 – 14:00 – Bronze Medal Match
26 Might 2024 – 17:00 – Gold Medal Match
Fixtures – Indoor Africa Cup 2024 – Girls
23 Might 2024 – 15:30 – South Africa vs. Botswana
24 Might 2024 – 17:00 – Namibia vs. South Africa
25 Might 2024 – 12:30 – South Africa vs. Zimbabwe
26 Might 2024 – 12:30 – Bronze Medal Match
26 Might 2024 – 15:30 – Gold Medal Match