The 2018 Junior Underwater Hockey National Championships was one to remember as Potchefstroom did its reputation as a world-class host no harm with a fantastic tournament at the municipal swimming pool from 8–10 March.
The local North West team also did splendidly on their home ground with the u.19 men taking bronze and the u.19 ladies taking silver, under the tutelage of experienced Potchefstroom coaches, JD Aucamp and Pamela Mackor. The u.15 girls’ team also took silver with the u.15 boys just missing out on a medal with a fourth place.

The top brass at the SA Underwater Hockey Federation (SAUHF) and SA Underwater Sports (SAUSF) were also impressed with Potchefstroom’s hosting of the tournament and believe that this outdoor venue was ideal for the players to show their skills in a prestigious national competition.
‘I was pleasantly surprised at the readiness of the municipal facilities when compared to other facilities and public swimming pools across the country. The J.B. Marks Municipality must get the credit for the hard work put in here,’ stated Heine Engelbrecht, the president of the SAUHF.

Engelbrecht further emphasised that the locality and logistics in Potch lend themselves perfectly to the hosting of such a national competition.
‘The players enjoy it tremendously and the family atmosphere at the junior nationals has been fantastic. It is also a great marketing opportunity for the North-West University with a number of students gaining a better idea of the city and what the university has to offer in terms of sport and swimming. It really opens their eyes,’ he said.
William Pyke, the president of the SAUSF, also added that SA has the talent and ability to compete on the global stage but the lack of proper facilities is still hampering progress in underwater sports. ‘The facilities and government backing are still some of the main challenges. However, the interest in underwater sports is definitely growing and we are consistently achieving on the world stage. The popular Arnold Classic event from 18–20 May will also feature underwater hockey for the first time, which will give it massive exposure,’ he added.