The seventh edition of the FIH Indoor World Cup kicks off in Croatia on Monday with Africa’s biggest broadcaster poised to broadcast the game for hockey-lovers continent-wide.
Known as one of the most electrifying events in the sport due to fast-paced and skillful players who offer non-stop action-packed matches, the FIH Indoor World Cup is a must-watch for any sports fanatic.
African hopes will lay firmly in the hands of South Africa and Namibia. Both nations will have their men’s and women’s teams not just participating but competing.
South Africa open their tournament when the women’s team face Thailand at 12:50pm, while the men face Croatia at 9:50pm on the opening day.
SuperSport will show all the matches live on SuperSport Variety 2 (DStv Channel 207) in SA and SuperSport Africa 2 and Action Africa in the Rest of Africa.
The matches will also be streamed on DStv Stream and GOtv.
South Africa, having successfully staged the showpiece event in 2023 won by double defending champions Austria in the men’s division and the Netherlands in the women’s section, will be hoping to improve on the 6th and 4th place finishes in the men’s and women’s divisions respectfully.
The format of this year's tournament is the same as the Rugby 7s at the Paris Olympics.
Three (3) groups of four (4) countries with the top two in each group plus the two best third-placed teams going through to the quarterfinals.
There is an added incentive as a top six finish for an African team earns the continent an additional spot at the 2029 Indoor World Cup.
Fans are guaranteed top-tier action when the tournament gets underway, live on Your World of Champions, SuperSport.
“SuperSport prides itself in offering our viewers the best of all sports, and the FIH World Cup provides us an opportunity to platform the much-loved sport that is hockey,” said SuperSport CEO Rendani Ramovha.
“Often more recognised during the Olympics in field hockey, it is our intention to make sure that a sport like indoor hockey gets the exposure it deserves. As a sport widely played in the South African school sporting systems, we are certain this tournament will draw much fanfare and cultivate new heroes for our future champions.”
SA TEAMS READY TO MAKE THEIR MARK
The South African contingent is far from short of heroes for young aspirant hockey players and lovers to enjoy in full flight.
The South African women’s team boasts Olympians, Kayla de Waal and Edith Molikoe.
Led by captain Jamie Southgate, the team come into the tournament ranked 6th in the world with Southgate’s experience integral to their success.
As the third most capped player in South African hockey history, having recently played her 100th game, she and her teammates will be hoping the highs of such a monumental achievement invigorate the team to success.
The 8th world-ranked South African men’s team is led by captain Dayaan Cassiem, alongside his headline-grabbing younger brother Mustapha.
Lauded for his pace, skill and mesmeric style of play, Dayaan is the perfect foil for the goal-scoring machine that is Mustapha.
The latter enters this tournament as the reigning World Junior Player of the Tournament from the last edition and has already notched up 101 goals in just 41 matches!
The experience of Justin Domleo will also play a vital role if the trophy is to make its way onto African soil as this edition in Croatia marks his fourth World Cup as he continues to break records as the country’s all-time capped leader in the men’s side.
“From a format familiar to one of our most popular sports, to the vested interest on account of South Africa and Namibia’s participation both in the men’s and women’s divisions, this year’s edition of the FIH World Cup perfectly encapsulates the kind of sporting action SuperSport viewers are hungry for. We cannot wait to feed viewers clashes between the best of the best,” concluded Ramovha.
The stage is set for a pulsating tournament.
The best indoor hockey teams are converging on Croatia and fans are certain not to miss a moment of the action courtesy of Your World of Champions, SuperSport.