Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ghanaian Times
Published on 2024-03-19 07:44:56
South Africa has made the difficult decision to withdraw both its men’s and women’s hockey teams from the ongoing 13th African Games in Accra. This decision was made in accordance with the recommendations and guidelines set forth by the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The primary reason for the withdrawal of the South African teams was the inadequate preparation of the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch, where the hockey competition was supposed to take place. Despite assurances from the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and the African Hockey Federation that the pitches would be ready for international-standard competition, it was ultimately deemed unsuitable by South Africa’s Olympic governing body, SASOC.
In a statement released by SASOC, it was communicated that the decision to withdraw was not taken lightly. The South African Hockey Federation consulted with Sports Flooring Warehouse, a specialist in carpet laying and an FIH recognized service provider, who confirmed that the field was not satisfactory and could potentially harm the athletes.
Additionally, the rescheduling of the hockey competition multiple times posed logistical challenges for the South African teams. The lack of test events to ensure the readiness of the venues before the start of the competition was also highlighted as a major concern. According to FIH field certification guidelines, any field considered for a tournament venue should be tested in advance to demonstrate compliance with the specifications, which had not been done in this case.
With both the men’s and women’s hockey teams already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, competing in the African Games under the current circumstances in Accra was deemed to pose a significant injury risk. The proximity of the African Games to the Olympics further raised concerns regarding the safety of the athletes.
The decision to withdraw from the African Games was communicated to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) by Team SA Team Leader, Ms. Patience Shikwambana. Despite the disappointment of missing out on the competition, the safety and well-being of the athletes were given top priority in this decision.
Looking ahead, South Africa will continue to prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics and ensure that their hockey teams are ready to compete at the international level. The experience gained from the African Games, although cut short, will serve as a learning opportunity for the teams as they focus on their Olympic aspirations.
In conclusion, the withdrawal of the South African men’s and women’s hockey teams from the African Games was a difficult but necessary decision to ensure the safety and well-being of the athletes. The teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming Paris Olympics and continue to work towards their goal of performing at the highest level on the international stage.
Read the original article on Ghanaian Times
