African Games: South Africa pull out of hockey competition over poor pitches

Both South Africa's men's and women's hockey teams have opted out of participation in the ongoing 2023 African Games, citing concerns over the inadequate conditions of the playing facilities.

The teams were slated to compete at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Pitch, which has been undergoing renovation in recent weeks.

However, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) released a statement asserting that the venue was unfit to host such a high-profile event.

Sascoc stated that independent specialists had advised them that the playing surface posed potential injury risks to their players.

Consequently, Team SA made the decision to withdraw from the hockey event, prioritizing the safety of their athletes, especially since they had already secured qualification for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Patience Shikwambana, Team SA's team leader, emphasized that the decision was made after consulting with Sports Flooring Warehouse, a South African-based specialist in carpet laying and an FIH recognized service provider.

Shikwambana stated, "They have also advised us – having analyzed the images we shared with them – that the field is not satisfactory and may cause harm to the athletes."

The rescheduling of the hockey competition multiple times added logistical challenges for the team, as they had to arrange for both teams to travel to Ghana in time for the tournament.

Additionally, concerns were raised regarding the lack of test events to ensure venue readiness and compliance with FIH field certification guidelines.

South Africa's withdrawal from the hockey competition deals a significant blow to hosts Ghana, who invested over $200 million in preparing for the Games and ensuring the readiness of various sporting facilities.