When apartheid was lifted in 1993, it was India that hosted South Africa’s crcket team. Our cricket had that ‘first’ tag. That African cricket team’s visit is known to everybody, but on the same time hockey also made a historical stride.
Indian hockey was the first team to visit apartheid free South Africa.
Zafar Iqbal was the coach, Shakeel Ahmad led the side, and played a four-match Series. It was maide tour for Zafar Iqbal and maiden captaincy for midfield Shakeel.
Thereafter the exchanges increased, South African team coming for Indira Cup regularly, their centre-forward and captain topscoring the Lucknow edition once.
South Africa always welcome India for visits, both men and women teams going there reguarly.
South Africa of 90s was coming up side, but in the 2000s a mature side.
Whether it is Commonwealth Games, Olympics or World Cup, this side offered stiff resistence ot India.
Packed with solid defence manned by its captain Austin Smith, scoring againts them is not going to be easy, despite the fact the Australians would love to tell a different story.
South Africa plays open hockey.
Their weaknes of course is Penalty Corner defence, charges are vulnerable. If India can use variation, let Diwakar or Dhananjay gets rotation of set piece drills, goals need not be a problem for India.