South Africa have come to Bhubaneswar with a mission that goes beyond the tournament itself.

“We want the general sports community in our country to be more aware of hockey. We want our sport to be recognized so that for the future players don’t have to pay to compete for tournaments like this one,” he said at a virtual media conference on Monday, November 22.

Both Morgan and Head Coach Shile Ntuli threw light on the challenges that South African hockey faces – especially those related to finance.

But they hope things change given the much-acclaimed South African performance in recent times.

They also reflected on a heartening performance of the senior string at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where they beat the likes of Germany and scared another Euro heavyweight The Netherlands in a losing cause.

“Our performances there weren’t too much of a surprise for the hockey community – who felt the team should have done better – but it was a wake-up call for those outside of it that here was a sport to be recognized,” Ntuli said.

Morgan also revealed that the Tokyo show puts “good pressure on the team” ahead of the Bhubaneswar campaign.

Morgan revealed: “We had to chip in for training and travel to the Junior World Cup.

“It meant that many of the players had to speak very kindly to their parents for financial help,” he said wryly.

“Many players also set up self-funding programs to help make the trip.

“We want to draw attention at home so that such things don’t happen to future players and we make ourselves a proper competitive country. This is our goal,” the captain said.

The Tokyo performance has strengthened self-belief, according to Morgan.

“We now believe we can make things happen,” he said.

The South Africans have had two training sessions in three days, the duo revealed.

“We find the Kalinga stadium really good,” said Ntuli as he encapsulated the team’s preparation in the last two years. “The climatic conditions are closer to those home although a lot more humid.”

“The Covid-19 pandemic did disrupt our prep but that’s no excuse. All nations have faced this problem and we’ve done our best under the circumstances.

“We open against Belgium (Chile and Malaysia are also in pool A) who are awesome opponents and it will be our first competitive match in two years.”

The other opponents in pool A are Chile and Malaysia

As for the opponents in general, Ntuli said, “With limited information on other teams at this level and given the various styles from different continents, we can only focus on ourselves.”

Morgan provided insights into the country’s junior setup and program. “We have players from various provinces, states and unions coming together.

“Forty-five players began training in 2019 and we have met every three months for national camps,” he said.

“We’re mostly students in the second and third year and they come from three provinces.

“Playing matches against our senior team has been valuable as also the fact that most of our players compete in various leagues around the country.”

Gritty customers, the South Africans are known as across sport. Morgan’s boys in Bhubaneswar have their work cut out, given their profound aims and ambitions.

Another heartening performance here will inspire their U-21 women’s team who play the World Cup at home in a fortnight’s time and perhaps set the tone for better days for the country’s hockey.