The opportunity to represent your nation at the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup is almost always a once in the lifetime opportunity for these young South Africans. Whilst the team is beaming with talent, it is not without its challenges.
A signficiant part of this process and programme for these young players is self-funded. This means that they have to not only try to compete with the best in the World but also fund this undertaking themselves whilst completing their tertiary education or juggling their work. These hurdles have highlighted the team’s unyielding spirit to overcome and rise above the challenges they face on a daily basis.
We are calling on HOCKEY FANS to assist us in getting these talented young players to the World Cups, so that they can take their rightful place and compete on the World Stage. Fans can contribute via the set up crowdfunding campaigns or by purchasing our replica jerseys. Our Jersey sponsor TK South Africa will donate R100 for each purchase made into the campaigns.
U21 Women’s Team
In March 2023 the u21 Women’s Team competed in the Junior African Cup in Ismailia, Egypt finishing off as the African Champions once again and, in the process sealing qualification to the World Cup at the end of November this year.
Having achieved a brilliant 7th place finish at the delayed 2022 World Cup held in South Africa, they will be eager to stamp their mark even harder in Chile. Taheera Augousti and Ntsopa Mokoena will be central to the team’s success bringing their experience from the senior national team into the Under 21 setup.
Men’s U21 Team
As part of the journey to qualification, the Men’s U21 Team debuted at the Sultan of Johor Cup in Malaysia in 2022. In this tournament the team secured a remarkable come-from-behind victory against eventual champions India, who have a well financed programme at home. The African side also secured double victories against the hosts Malaysia as well as competing admirably against Australia, Japan and Great Britain.
In March 2023 they went on to compete in the Junior African Cup in Ismailia, Egypt. The team ended up as champions of Africa where they sealed qualification to the World Cup that will be held in December of 2023, securing a title they had lost in the previous editions.
As part of their further preparations, the team will once again take part in the Sultan of Johor Cup from the 27th of October to the 4th of November 2023. This time they will be taking on even tougher opposition with the participating teams being : Australia, Germany, Great Britain, India, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand and Malaysia.
The team playing in the Junior World Cup will be led by Mustapha Cassiem. He made his debut for the outdoor South African national team in February 2020 in a test match against the United States. He competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics. In August 2021 he was nominated for the FIH Rising Star of the Year at the FIH Hockey Stars Awards 2020–21.
In 2023 he competed in the Men’s Indoor Hockey World Cup where he was named as the Best Junior Player of the Tournament which came a month after he represented South Africa at the Men’s Senior Hockey World Cup in India. At the culmination of this tournament he was named JSP Foundation Best Junior Player of the Tournament.
All donations above R250 go into a draw to WIN a special edition Supporters Shirt, donations R500 go into a draw to WIN a replica 2023 SA Hockey Jersey and donations of R 1000 or more receive a double entry to the Replica Draw. For donations above R10 000 a special invitation to a lunch with representatives of the Team.
Donate here – http://qrco.de/bdjEq5
FOR ALL MEDIA ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT
Deon Morgan – saha@sahockey.co.za
