The 29th Azlan Shah Cup was due to take place In 2020 and 2021 but both times were denied due to the Covid pandemic. But at last the 29th staging of an event that was first staged in 1983 has been set for 16-25 November 2022. South Africa have been invited to participate in the event which will be the third time the African champions have contested after competing in 2005 and 2014.
The one-pool tournament will feature Japan (World Ranking 17), Korea (12), Malaysia (10) and Pakistan (18) along with the South Africans. Egypt (20) has also been announced following the withdrawal of Canada. The top two teams will play in the final at the completion of the group stage.
For South Africa the team includes a largely inexperienced team with 7 of the 18 players set to earn their first International Cap. Eastern Province captain Le-Neal Jackson will be the most experienced player in the side having played 34 test matches. It’s a massive opportunity to stake a claim for inclusion in the FIH Nations Cup taking place in Potchefstroom in December, with eyes quickly shifting towards the FIH Hockey World Cup in January in India.
South Africa will open their account against Pakistan in a rematch of their Commonwealth Games memorable draw. Next up is African rivals Egypt in their first meeting since the African Cup of Nations in Ghana in January. It will then be hosts Malaysia before completing the group stages against Japan and Korea.
SA Hockey Men’s Squad – Azlan Shah Cup 2022
|
Name |
Caps |
Name |
Caps |
|
|
Estiaan Kriek |
15 |
Zenani Kraai |
0 |
|
|
Anton van Loggerenberg |
0 |
Mark Chong |
0 |
|
|
Connor Beauchamp |
21 |
Melrick Maddocks |
8 |
|
|
Le-Neal Jackson |
34 |
Thabang Modise |
1 |
|
|
Clayton Saker |
13 |
Brad Sherwood |
15 |
|
|
Mohamed Mea |
30 |
Peter Jarvis |
0 |
|
|
Jacques van Tonder |
0 |
Luthando Jonas |
0 |
|
|
Matt de Sousa |
29 |
Cameron le Forestier |
0 |
|
|
Sihle Ngubane |
11 |
Trevor de Lora |
8 |
