SA and Zimbabwe youth hockey clash in Johannesburg

The South African Schools’ Hockey Committee (Sashoc) announced the return of international youth hockey with the Allistar Fredericks Africa Challenge 2025 taking place in Johannesburg from August 12.

This prestigious event will see the SA U16 and U17 teams face off against Zimbabwe’s U16 and U18 national squads in a four-day Test series hosted at St David’s Marist Inanda.

This will be the first international series for these age groups since 2022, reigniting a critical cross-border rivalry and providing a much-needed platform for emerging talent to compete at the highest level.

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Wendell Domingo, the president of the Sashoc, shared his excitement about the series.

“This is more than just a tournament. It’s a celebration of youth excellence, African unity, and the legacy of Allistar Fredericks, a pioneer of SA hockey.

“We’re proud to again offer our rising stars the opportunity to test themselves on an international stage,” said Domingo.

Teams were selected through high-performance programmes and national tournament scouting, ensuring that only the top talent will don the green and gold.

Tendayi Maredza, from the Zimbabwe Schools’ Hockey Association, said, “We are honoured to be part of the Allistar Fredericks Africa Challenge and to reignite our long-standing hockey relationship with SA.

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This tournament is a vital opportunity for our young athletes to experience top-tier international competition and represent Zimbabwe on a respected platform.

“We look forward to spirited matches, new friendships and the continued growth of African hockey.”