FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | Austria Edge World Cup Opener The historic FIH indoor Hockey World Cup, presented by SPAR, got started at the Heartfelt Arena in South Africa. An almost capacity crowd created a cauldron of noise as the South Africans and Austrians locked horns at a World Cup for the first time since 2007. It was the SPAR South African Women who got the game to a raucous start and rewarded through for their efforts with an opening goal from captain Jess O’Connor. Playing in her 125th test cap the South African captain fired home from the Penalty Corner to send the crowd into a...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | Six Goal Thriller opens men’s FIH Hockey World Cup, Presented by SPAR Having watched the South African Women go down to a narrow defeat in their opener, the South African Indoor Hockey Men, powered by Tops at SPAR, were determined to give themselves a winning start as they took on 2018 fourth place finishers Australia. They couldn’t have asked for a better start. Lungani Gabela’s shot was rebounded to Chad Futcher who shaped to shoot but was taken out and a penalty stroke was awarded. Mustapha Cassiem stepped up to fire home his 53rd international indoor goal. Elation...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | Dutch pushed to the edge in order to get the win After a narrow defeat to Austria on day 1, the SPAR South Africa Women’s Indoor Hockey team took the court for undeniably the toughest assignment on paper, a match with tournament favorites the Netherlands. Spurred on by their full-hearted display in the opening day the hosts came out with a fighting spirit and with a remarkable determination to challenge and upset their opposition. They had one or two half chances in the early exchanges, but the Dutch showed how they are able to deliver danger at almost point with...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | Mustapha Magic as BlitzStoks triumph South Africa, powered by Tops at SPAR, affectionately known as the BlitzStoks were looking for the opportunity to get their first win of the tournament and a second place in Pool B at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Pretoria as they took on Czech Republic on day 2. A vociferous crowd greeted both teams but they were led to silence when Toms found a corridor of space in the circle off the back of the defenders and flicked over Anton van Loggerenberg to give the Europeans a lead. South Africa though pulled level thanks to the...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | South African Men silenced by the flying Eagles The South African Indoor Hockey Men, powered by Tops at SPAR, were still feeling the effects of a bruising encounter with Czech Republic on Monday night as they returned to the park to take on the USA on Tuesday. Both teams knew a win would give them a wonderful position in lining up for the Quarter-Finals. South Africa got the best possible start when they were awarded a penalty stroke early on. Mustapha Cassiem stood up and fired the ball home superbly past Klages. It was a lead that wouldn’t last long as Klages...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | SPAR South Africa fights back to earn a point against the USA The SPAR South Africa Women’s Hockey team took on the USA for the first time since 2015 at the Heartfelt Arena today. Their Pool A encounter was also a chance for either team to get an upper hand in the battle for a quarter-final spot The South Africans put in a massive effort last night against the Netherlands and that was evident in the early exchanges as the South Africans were unable to find what they needed. While the South Africans couldn’t raise the pace the Americans were loving...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2023 | SPAR South Africa suffocates Australia to earn win The SPAR South African Indoor Hockey Women’s team were desperate to ignite their FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup campaign when they played against Australia at Heartfelt Arena on Wednesday evening. The South Africans played a game that stifled the creative power of the Australians incredibly denying the Australians space or the ability to impact the game with any sort of significance. Throughout the game the South Africans maintained a disciplined shape and limited the Australians to glimpses of...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | South African Men denied a famous victory The South African Indoor Hockey Men were desperate to bounce back from their defeat to USA when they faced off against world number 3 Iran on Wednesday evening. The South Africans knew facing the Asian Indoor Hockey giants would be anything but easy. Continuing a remarkable run of scoring in every one of his 26 test matches, Mustapha Cassiem again stood up to be counted and fired in a low curving shot to give the hosts an early lead. It was a lead they would not hold for long as the Iranians pulled it back...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | SPAR South Africa secure first ever Quarter Final spot A defensive masterclass from the SPAR South African ladies in their pool game against Australia at the FIH Hockey Indoor World Cup on Wednesday set up an easy scenario on Thursday morning. Defeat New Zealand and qualify for the Quarter-Finals. Spurred on by a crowd awash with school kids from the Tshwane region, the South Africans looked to break down a stubborn New Zealand defense and they eventually managed to do so when Tegan Fourie converted her third of the tournament just before the halftime...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | South Africa seals first ever Quarter Final with last-ditch win South Africa secured a quarter-final place in the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 2023 with a dramatic final-minute goal to defeat Argentina 6-5 at Heartfelt Arena. South Africa couldn’t have asked for a better start as Mustapha Cassiem fed the ball to his brother in acres of space. As the Argentine keeper came forward to close Dayaan fired the ball into the roof of the goal. Just 18 seconds had passed at this point. The crowd included a number of school kids from the area were jubilant as...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | Scintillating SPAR South Africa Seal Historic Semi The SPAR South African Indoor Hockey side continued their historic run at the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup on Friday night as a capacity crowd watched them defeat Belgium 2-1 to secure the first World Cup semi-final for any African nation. South Africa began the day by celebrating Jess Lardant reaching the milestone of 50 games for the country. SPAR South Africa had built their run in the tournament on the back of gritty defensive stability, arguably being the strongest defensive outfit at the tournament....

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | SA Men fight back but fall short against Netherlands The South Afircan Indoor Hockey Men had already achieved their best-ever finish at an FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup by securing a Quarter Final spot. They however had loftier ambitions and took to the court in an attempt to emulate their female compatriots in qualifying for the Semi-Finals. The Dutch though, heavily favoured, would have their own ideas and would produce a devastating and dominant Dutch first half to lead 5-0 at the half time break. They opened the scoring through captain Burkhart...

FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup | Brave South Africa fall to Brilliant Dutch The SPAR South African Indoor Hockey side had captivated their fans throughout the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in a march to the semi-finals. They had a packed crowd at the Hearfelt Arena in their corner as they sought to sink the unsinkable ship in the Netherlands. The South African women had returned to the World Cup having missed the 2018 edition and have shown the journey they have been on has been an incredible journey full of heart, courage and inspiration. The juggernaut that is the Dutch though was near impossible...

The African Sun sets on the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup 24 teams representing 14 countries ventured to the southern tip of Africa, to a country renowned for its collection of wildlife. In the wild it is the strongest that survive and are ultimately the king of the bush. The Indoor Hockey World Cup 2023, presented by SPAR, was no different as the Austrian Men and Netherlands Women become the undisputed kings and queens of the court and more importantly the world. The Austrian men had entered the tournament as favourites on the back of their European Championship title and cantered...

Austria and Netherlands on top of the world at 2023 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup   Pretoria, South Africa:  After 80 matches and seven days of rousing action, Austria’s men successfully defended their world title while the Netherlands regained the women’s crown as the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup came to a gripping end in Pretoria, South Africa. Michael Körper got the defending champions off to a great start in the men’s final, putting his side ahead in the ninth minute. Less than a minute later the Dutch struck back, Max Sweering slotting one in off a penalty stroke for the...

With the 2025 Indoor Hockey World Cup, Croatia will host its first ever FIH World Cup! Lausanne, Switzerland: The International Hockey Federation (FIH) is delighted to announce that the next FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup will be staged in Croatia, in the city of Poreč, from 3 to 9 February 2025. Whilst Croatia has already organised FIH and EuroHockey events in the past, it is the very first time that the European country will host a FIH World Cup! The qualification process for the most prestigious Indoor Hockey tournament in the world has already...

The South African Indoor Hockey Men, proudly powered by Tops at SPAR, are gearing up for an exhilarating challenge as they head to Swakopmund, the esteemed venue of their triumphant 2018 African Indoor Cup of Nations victory. Their mission? To defend their crown and clinch a fourth consecutive trip to the prestigious FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup. Fresh from their commendable top 6 finish in the previous Indoor World Cup, held on home soil, the South African team is riding high on momentum. This stellar performance not only marked their highest finish to date but also secured a second African...