South Africa has withdrawn its men's and women's field hockey teams from the 13th All-Africa Games currently underway in Accra. The South African Federation deplores the state of the pitch, which "is not adapted" to international standards.
The South African Olympic Committee has indicated that it has communicated the reasons for its departure from Ghana to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). In correspondence sent to the LOC, SA team leader Ms Patience Shikwambana says: "Beyond this decision, our South African Hockey Federation consulted Sports Flooring Warehouse, a South African carpet installation specialist and a recognized FIH specialist. They also informed us after analyzing the images we shared with them that the pitch was unsatisfactory and could harm the athletes."
Incidentally, the South African men's and women's field hockey teams have already qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
