Hockey: first victory for an African team in Olympic qualifiers – Canada Boosts

But it surely’s onerous to beat what South Africa has simply achieved within the second spherical of qualifying for the 2026 Olympic Video games in Milan.

South Africa defeated Bulgaria for the primary time EVER and have become the primary ever African nation to win a sport in Olympic Qualification!

They had been beforehand 0-7 with a 10-53 GD vs the Bulgarians. pic.twitter.com/rtTPGBaU2c

– Hockey Worldwide (@H0ckeyWorldwide) December 17, 2023

The African staff overcame Bulgaria 5-1 to document the primary victory for a rustic from this continent at this pre-Olympic event.

It’s enormous!

Even when South Africa doesn’t go all the way in which, it’s an excellent step ahead for part of the world the place neither the local weather nor the monetary sources are conducive to hockey. Estonia, who completed prime of Group Okay, will undergo to the subsequent spherical.

The brief video reveals the enjoyment the second brings to the gamers. It’s a really particular and strange second.

Kenya was a pioneer of hockey in Africa with its nationwide staff, the Ice Lions. A Canadian, Tim Colby, is accountable for this program and has enabled the gamers to study the game.
They dream of the Olympic Video games and the potential for seeing the primary African participant drafted into the NHL.

In 2018, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon made the journey to attend the primary sport in this system’s historical past and even donned their uniforms for the event.

It was an eye-opening expertise for a lot of. Since then, progress has continued and as we speak the continent has taken one other step ahead.
Hockey can solely profit from tales like this. We frequently speak, and rightly so, in regards to the issues of sure groups, be they coaches, gamers or followers. This story contrasts with that, and is a superb instance of how hockey actually could be for everybody.

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