Hockey | There's A Buzz As World Cup Masters Hockey World Masters Hockey World Cup 2024 Draws Nearer

Cape Town, South Africa: As the 50-day countdown begins, hockey players around the world are gearing themselves up for the ultimate challenge when the World Masters Hockey World Cup 2024 takes place in Cape Town from October 12 to 21.

World Masters Hockey: Reg Marais, SA Masters Hockey President (left) hands over an official World Masters Hockey World Cup 2024 shirt to City Of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman, celebrating 50 days to the global event to be staged in Cape Town from 12-21 October 2024. Picture Credit: Bruce Sutherland

Thursday, August 22, 2024

• City of Cape Town gears up to welcome game's top players
• 50-day countdown begins until the World masters Hockey World Cup 2024 in Cape Town

Hosted by SA Masters Hockey, in conjunction with the City of Cape Town, there is a buzz of excitement building as the country's leading senior players prepare to test themselves against 22 other participating countries.

In a sector of the sport, which is showing exceptional growth, SA Masters Hockey president Reg Marais said these sorts of tournaments had provided a new lease of life for many players.

"Masters hockey caters for players from the age of 35 to the 80-plus category and it is growing exponentially," he said.

"Traditionally, around the age of 35, players used to head into retirement but what we are seeing now is that there are fresh opportunities to keep these players in the game, so hockey has become a genuine cradle to grave option.

"The events remain extremely competitive, and, for example, you now find 55-year-olds learning new hockey skills and having skills coaches."

World Masters Hockey: City Of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith (left) shakes hands with Reg Marais, SA Masters Hockey President, wearing official World Masters Hockey World Cup 2024 shirts celebrating 50 days to the global event to be staged in Cape Town from 12-21 October 2024. Picture Credit: Bruce Sutherland

As SA Masters Hockey prepare to host a second global event after the success of the inaugural tournament in 2022, also held in Cape Town, Marais said they had taken a deliberate decision for SA to become a premier destination for these sorts of occasions.

"As our Masters players are self-funded, it does make it expensive to always travel abroad, so we have taken the approach of aiming to host World Cups in South Africa, which allows our players to compete against the best in the world on home turf.

"In addition, through these events we are able to generate finance, which allows us to assist teams with funding for future overseas tournaments, and this has helped us to grow Masters hockey."

World Masters Hockey: City Of Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith wearing official World Masters Hockey World Cup 2024 shirts celebrating 50 days to the global event to be staged in Cape Town from 12-21 October 2024.

Picture Credit: Bruce Sutherland

A massive spin-off of the World Cup is that the age divisions attract players who make it more than just playing in a hockey tournament, often including options such as safaris in their visits, creating an impact on the economy.

Marais said it was essential that they added value wherever they could.

"If you consider that about 2 300 athletes will be coming to SA, from a tourism perspective we estimate that anything between R150-million and R250-million will be injected into the Cape Town economy," he said.

"So it is of real benefit to the country and naturally we are delighted to have the backing of the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape government.

"The city's events management team have been exceptional and have given very real support to us in our efforts to make this a success and to unlock the sort of investment we are talking about.

"And, of course, Cape Town, with its wide range of attractions, sells itself and that has made our job to sell the World Cup easier.

"I would really urge the people of Cape Town and surrounds to embrace this tournament and to come out to support our teams during the event."

The City of Cape Town officials have clearly bought into the concept as they take the chance to promote their region and South Africa as a premier tourist destination.

"The World Masters Hockey World Cup presents Cape Town with an opportunity to put on another world-class event that will showcase not only the sport of field hockey, but will shine the spotlight on our city's capabilities," said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.

"As we head closer to the start of the events, we are looking forward to showcasing our beautiful city to the players from across the world, sharing in the camaraderie and basking in the glory with the hockey community."

Marais also paid tribute to a number of other sponsors who have stepped in to support Masters hockey. These are Southern Sun, SPAR, Afrihost and the V&A Waterfront.

Among their partners for the event are Western Province Hockey Union, Western Province Cricket Club, Hartleyvale Hockey Stadium, Wynberg Boys' High, Wynberg Girls' High, Camps Bay High and Cathsseta.

A total of five age divisions will be gunning for the title of world champions, with men and women competing in the over-35 and over-40 sections.

The remaining sections will see players contesting the over-65, over-70 and over-75 age-groups.

Matches will be played at the Hartleyvale Hockey Stadium, Western Province Cricket Club and the astros at the Wynberg Boys' and Girls' High Schools.

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