The SA women's hockey team are using their series against Namibia as the final preparations for next month's FIH Hockey World Cup. They will be buoyed by the R3m funding windfall from the government.
South Africa's men's and women's hockey teams have been handed a crucial lifeline ahead of next month's FIH Hockey World Cup after Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie approved R3 million in emergency financial assistance.
The government intervention steps in to resolve an estimated R3m shortfall faced by the South African Hockey Association (SA Hockey), which had threatened to force players to self-fund their participation at the tournament in Belgium and the Netherlands, taking place from August 14-30. Both national sides qualified for the showcase as reigning African champions.
Announcing the intervention on Thursday, McKenzie made it clear that national representatives should never face a personal financial burden to compete on the world stage.
"Our hockey players have already done South Africa proud, arriving in Europe as reigning African champions in both the men's and women's competitions," McKenzie said.
