The countdown is on for the sixth FIH Hockey Indoor World Cup as 24 teams gear up to compete for the coveted men’s and women’s titles on African soil.

The tournament will be hosted at the Heartfelt Arena opposite the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria from February 5 to 11.

Twelve international men’s and women’s teams will compete respectively to leave Pretoria as new holders of the world cup trophies.

With Germany opting out of the women’s tournament, the door is open for other teams to step up to take the crown. The women’s tournament will feature one debutant in New Zealand, who will be an unknown quantity for their opponents in Pool A.

Hosts SPAR South Africa will participate in their fourth World Cup, with their best finish being ninth in 2015. The home team will be looking to make a strong showing to secure a spot in the quarterfinals in front of an excited crowd.

Two-time women’s world cup winners and tournament favorites Netherlands will be the team to beat, not only in Pool A but in the tournament overall. They recently finished runners-up in the Euro Hockey Indoor Championship.

Austria, the United States and Australia are the other teams in Pool A.

In Pool B, the favorites are European bronze medalists Ukraine, but they will face tough competition from Asian champions Kazakhstan, African champions Namibia and European powerhouse the Czech Republic, while Canada and Belgium are the two other participants.

Namibia’s women’s team is competing in their second consecutive tournament after successfully defending their African title in KwaZulu-Natal last year.

* With very strong competition, the South African men’s team must be ready to hit the ground running.

The one big factor in their favor is that all the northern hemisphere teams will land from their mid-winter in South Africa where the summer temperatures can normally turn north of 30 degrees Celsius.

SA coach Justin Rosenberg also believes that the home crowd can also be a big advantage for the SA team.

“I think the big factor which can play in our favour is the seventh player we have sitting in the stands,” he explained.

The side will be led by Jethro Eustice as the hosts strive to make an impression when the tournament is held outside of Europe for the first time.

On the pitch South Africa’s most experienced indoor hockey player Justin Domleo will be a key figure for the hosts. His experience gained from 42 caps will be pivotal to the team’s chances, while Eustice and Ryan Julius, who both played in the 2018 event in Berlin, will also have important roles to fill.

The men’s team will be competing in their fifth World Cup, having missed only the 2011 event. They will start the tournament in pool B with Argentina, Australia, the Czech Republic, Iran and America.

Pool A will consist of Austria, Belgium, Kazakhstan, Namibia, Netherlands and New Zealand.

It promises to be an exhilarating tournament with high octane action. Make sure you get your tickets and are part of history as the tournament moves out of Europe for the first time. (https://itickets.co.za/events/470639)

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