After a comprehensive evaluation, the South African Hockey Association has actually made a decision not to sign up with the FIH Hockey Men’s Pro League for the following period, regardless of having actually gotten approved for it, many thanks to winning the inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup used its very own dirt in Potchefstroom, in 2015. However, the South African Hockey Association has actually validated its company objective to sign up with the League– ‘Hockey at its Best’– in the future, supplied their groups, females or males, get approved for it on the area of play, naturally.
Just 2 months ago the South African Hockey Federation were commemorating their group’s success in winning the Nations Cup and also getting approved for the FIH Pro League, publishing on social media sites“FIH Pro League 2023, here we come!” Now we listen to that without any appointment with the players and also instructors, they have actually made a decision to take out the side from thePro League
“We represented our country to the best of our ability, won the damn thing, and nknow get told after a decision has already been made that ‘we’ withdrew! [This will] set our team back tremendously and undo the hardwork and sacrifice by our team (players, management and volunteers).”
Keenan Horne– after being informed that the South Africa Hockey Federation has actually withdrawn them from the Pro League
As an outcome, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has actually welcomed the Nations Cup runners-up, Ireland, to sign up with the FIH Hockey Pro League in 2023-24, and also the “Green Machine”– Ireland’s males’s group label– has actually approved.
Commenting on the statement, Hockey Ireland CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Ronan Murphy stated: “This announcement comes at a very exciting time for Hockey Ireland as we look to grow participation in the game and compete at the highest level on the international stage. The fact that our Senior Men are now competing in World Hockey’s Pro League against eight top Hockey teams from around the world is a testament to all the hard work to date. It’s a very busy year ahead for the team and the EuroHockey Championships in Abbotstown in July will be the perfect opportunity for fans to come along and watch them in full international action.”
Mark Tumilty, Ireland Men’s Head Coach can not wait to start in the FIH Hockey Pro League: “We are delighted this has come about. It’s a big opportunity for us and for men’s hockey in Ireland. It’s a massive challenge for us but I’ve said many times before that for Ireland to move forward in world hockey we need to be playing competitive games against the top nations. To have to chance now to play sixteen games against the top countries in the world gives us that opportunity to develop. It’s what we need and it’s a big carrot for the players.”
“The SA Hockey Association (SAHA) is extremely saddened by the fact that they will not be attending the FIH Hockey Pro League season (2023-2024) despite us qualifying at the inaugural Men’s Nations Cup. The magnificent progress in our team performance is a direct result of our participation in the previous Pro League season. As a federation we will forever be grateful for the opportunity afforded to us to participate at that level. It will be sorely missed, especially as it would have assisted our team with their preparation for Paris 2024. We wish Hockey Ireland and all the other teams all the very best for the FIH Hockey Pro League season (2023-2024)”, SAHA acting chief executive officer Shaune Baaitjies commented.
“Whilst we will miss South Africa in the next season, we know that the South African Hockey Association firmly intends to join the FIH Hockey Pro League as soon as possible. Therefore, this is just a matter of time. Meanwhile, we’re absolutely delighted to welcome the Irish men’s team and we can’t wait to see them perform in the League next season!”, FIH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Thierry Weil stated.
The upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League period (2023-24) will certainly be the very first one using the “promotion and relegation” concept. In concrete terms, the victors of the inaugural FIH Hockey Nations Cup played in 2022 (India for females, South Africa– currently changed by Ireland– for males) have actually been advertised. Both groups will certainly fill in the groups delegated (one females’s group and also one males’s group) at the end of the existing period.
