There are few dreams bigger than competing at the Olympic Games and for the Investec South Africa Women’s hockey team, that dream was nearly shattered.
Despite winning the Africa Cup in 2011 and meeting the International Olympic Committee standards for qualification, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) decided the competition had not been good enough and they should qualify again for the Games, which start in July.
What a crushing blow to the team and management. The message they were given could be summed up as: “Sorry, we’re not sure you’re good enough, so you’ll have to try again.”
SASCOC’s stringent qualification requirements, however, were standard across all sports to ensure those representing the country are genuine medal contenders.
So much for the underdog and outsiders having a chance. It leads one to wonder if SASCOC has ever heard of upsets in sport. Any child excelling at an Olympic sport would simply like the opportunity to participate in the Games. To have a local set of double standards is fair neither on the individual nor the team.
The women’s hockey team, to their credit, did not let the disappointment get to them as they went out to re-qualify in a gruelling nine-day tournament in Delhi in February. Again, they made it.
Led by 28-year-old captain Marsha Marescia, who was named Player of the Tournament, the South Africans prevailed in the final over a strong Indian side that had beaten them in the past. “I think if you were given the opportunity to go to the Olympic Games and all you had to do was win one event, you would give everything,” said Marescia before the tournament.
“All the teams participating are going to go flat out, but I think that with our mix of youth and experience, we are feeling confident.”
Teammate Kim Hubach said it was a relief when her side made it over the final hurdle and hinted at SASCOC’s curveball. “It was a feeling you can’t describe; months of hard work had finally paid off. The road to London has not been easy but we have grown as a team and beaten the odds.
“I would go to war with these girls. We have grown so close; they’re like a second family.”
The men’s team found themselves in the same situation. They too won the Africa Cup last year, but were forced to take part in a similar qualifying tournament in Japan at the end of April. As with the women, the men were playing for the only spot available to book their place in the Olympic showpiece.
For SASCOC’s sake, it’s lucky they made it, beating Japan 2-1, or the sporting body would have been left trying to explain how a team a fraction outside the top 10 (South Africa is ranked 12th in the world)—and which previously qualified—was not good enough to go to London.