Hockey crying for attention, despite continental triumphs

South Africa has secured its dominance on the African hockey stage for male and female categories of the game.

The South African men’s team defeated Egypt’s in the final of the African Cup of Nations which was held in Accra, Ghana, between January 17 and 23.

They won the continental title for the eighth time in a row.

The South African team also booked its spot in the 2023 Hockey World Cup in India next January.

“A World Cup qualifier is a unique event which brings its own pressures, since playing against African teams is totally different from playing against the elite teams in the world,” Gareth Ewing, South Africa’s coach, said at a press briefing.

Also, South Africa’s women team beat host, Ghana, 3–1, qualifying for the World Cup which will be co-hosted by Spain and the Netherlands in July.

The women’s team has never been defeated in the African Cup of Nations since 1994.

South Africa evidently tops the national teams’ side. Egypt also reigns supreme in the clubs’ side

“Local Egyptian teams have succeeded in reaching Africa’s top rankings,” Moayad Wael, a professional goalkeeper at Nasr Club in Cairo, told the Egyptian Mail. 

“However, the game still requires much support and official attention,” he added.

Three Egyptian teams, namely Tairat, Zamalek and Sharqia, were among the top four in the 2021 African Championship.

Tairat defeated Zamalek in the final stage of the contest which was held in Accra, Ghana, last November, while Sharqia came in fourth place.

Sharqia is one of the most prestigious hockeyteams in Africa.

It participated in 27 African championships, winning 23.

Wael said Egypt has good players who played for international teams, including Spain’s Barcelona and some teams in the UK, Italy and Belgium.

He cited Egyptian player, Gamal Fawzy, who played for Barcelona in 1994, participated in 348 local and international matches and scored 180 goals.

“However, Egypt has to invest more in hockey infrastructure, including building more pitches,” Wael said.

He said there are not enough hockey pitches in Egypt.

Most local sports clubs, he added, do not include hockey in the list of sports they sponsor or allow inside them.

Wael noted that hockey players need financial sponsorship and motivation.

“Hockey can become a very popular sport if it receives a fraction of the money spent every year on other sports like football, handball and basketball,” Wael said. “I dream that one day hockey will be as popular as other sports.”