Hockey world cup in Potch to be streamed across the globe

The 2021/2022 hockey junior world cup for women, which will be co-hosted by North-West University (NWU) from 5 to 16 December, will be broadcast from Potchefstroom to hockey supporters across the world with the help of technology. 

The event will be presented in collaboration with the South African Hockey Association and the sport’s global governing body, the International Hockey Federation. A total of 15 teams, which qualified in five separate continental competitions in Asia, Europe, Oceania, Africa and the Americas, will participate in the event. South Africa’s u/21 women’s team will represent the country.

Although spectators are unlikely to be allowed to watch the matches in person due to Covid-19, digital live streaming will help hockey lovers across the globe to be part of the action. 

Caydin Spandonie (21), one of the NWU’s male hockey players, shared his excitement about the event.

‘‘I can’t tell you how excited and happy I am that the hockey games will be broadcast live on different platforms. It will help me to feel like I am still part of the action. Although I can’t be there myself, these digital broadcasts are just a great way of making everyone part of the games…,’’ said Spandonie.

The live coverage will be powered by the international federation’s hockey app. This was confirmed by the NWU sport manager and head of the local organising committee, Sheldon Rostron.

He said the institution is disappointed that there won’t be spectators at the tournament but they plan on making the teams feel special through the use of technology to immerse hockey fans.

“Technology plays a huge role in hockey and I’d like to believe that we are quite well advanced in the delivery and entertainment of the game,” Rostron said.

Luke Makeleni, the assistant coach of the South African u/21 women’s hockey team from the University of the Free State, expressed his excitement about the upcoming tournament when he spoke to threestreamsmedia.

“There is live television streaming to replay the moments that are missed,” Makeleni said.

Edith Molikoe (21) and Onthatile Zulu (21), national u/21 players who both represented South Africa at the Tokyo Olympics, are excited that the tournament is taking place in Potchefstroom and it will give them home advantage as hosts. 

PUKfm, the university’s radio station will also broadcast the games for the students. 

Charonike Nel, the head of PUKfm, is elated about the tournament in Potchefstroom. 

“A project like this is obviously fantastic for the university but it also gives students the opportunity to see that developing sports is a very big priority for the university and the same for our listeners as well. We are very thankful that we get to bring news and coverage of a youth-based event,” she said.

Hockey supporters will be able to live stream games from 5 December. Supporters can download the app on google play for android users and IOS for apple users. For more information on the hockey games visit https://instagram.com/nwusports?utm_medium=copy_link. – Athi Galadile, Keorapetse Phalane and Sebastian Paulus