The President of the African Hockey Federation (AfHF), Seif El Dine Ahmed, has issued a statement in response to recent concerns raised by South African officials regarding the readiness and safety of Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium for the 13th African Games. Following South Africa’s decision to withdraw from the competition due to concerns about the pitch’s suitability, Mr Ahmed acknowledged the delays in venue preparation but assured that all participating countries had agreed to proceed with the competition. He expressed gratitude to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for their dedication to ensuring high-quality hockey in Africa, with a strong emphasis on player safety.
The withdrawal of both the men’s and women’s hockey teams from South Africa has brought attention to concerns about the readiness of Theodosia Okoh Stadium. The South African Olympic governing body, SASOC, has expressed doubts about the suitability of the pitches, despite repeated reassurances of their readiness for international-standard competition.
In response, Mr Ahmed clarified that the African Games hockey competition did not fall under international certification rules for qualifying events. He pointed out that among the 25 African countries recognised by the Africa Hockey Federation, only South Africa had a certified pitch. However, he expressed optimism that Theodosia Okoh Hockey pitch would attain certification by October, coinciding with the U-21 African Hockey tournament.
During a press briefing in Accra, Mr Ahmed stated, “With our experience, we can decide whether it was dangerous to play on the turf or not, and already six matches have been played on the turf with no major issues, and the players are enjoying the matches.”
Dr Kweku Ofosu-Asare, the Executive Chairman of the LOC, commended the remaining five participating countries in the hockey tournament for their performances so far, expressing confidence in the successful conclusion of the African Games.
In conclusion, Mr Ahmed and the LOC remain dedicated to ensuring that the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium is safe and suitable for the African Games. While challenges have been acknowledged, their commitment to player safety and the high quality of hockey in Africa is commendable. With ongoing improvements to the pitch and the cooperation of participating countries, the future of hockey in the region looks promising.