Sports Desk Reporter
The national government has stepped in with R3 million to ensure South Africa’s men’s and women’s hockey teams can compete at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup without players having to pay their own way.
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie approved the funding after the South African Hockey Association was left with a funding shortfall of about R3 million ahead of the tournament.
The World Cup will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from 14 to 30 August.
The funding follows reports that members of both national squads faced paying significant amounts from their own pockets to cover travel, accommodation, visas and tournament costs. Several players also spoke publicly about the financial strain of representing the country.
“Our hockey players have already done South Africa proud, arriving in Europe as reigning African champions in both the men’s and women’s competitions,” McKenzie said.
“It cannot be right that athletes who have earned that place on the world stage through years of sacrifice are then asked to fund their own participation. Representing your country is a national honour and a national responsibility. It should never be a personal financial burden,” he said.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture said the funding will be transferred once a formal funding agreement has been concluded. The South African Hockey Association must also comply with governance, financial management and reporting requirements before the money is released.
The association has been instructed to explain how the funding shortfall arose. It must account for how the government funding is spent. It must also submit a financial turnaround plan aimed at strengthening its long-term financial sustainability and governance.
McKenzie said the intervention was made to safeguard South Africa’s participation at this year’s World Cup. He stressed that it should not be seen as an ongoing commitment by government to cover financial shortfalls at national sports federations.
The department said it will continue working with sports federations to strengthen governance and financial resilience. The aim is to prevent similar funding crises before future major international competitions.
McKenzie also wished both the men’s and women’s teams every success as they prepare to represent South Africa at the World Cup next month.