Momentum key for SA hockey’s game-breakers

Zaahier Adams

In a new series leading up to the Paris Olympics, we here at Independent Newspapers will catch up with former South African Olympians to regale us on their unique experiences and share their thoughts on how the class of 2024 will fare in the French capital.

Murray Anderson, SA Hockey Team, Atlanta 1996

“Ali! Ali! Ali!”

I remember it clearly. I still get goosebumps all these years later. That was the chant from 90 000 spectators as Muhammad Ali, suffering from Parkinson’s disease, lit the flame inside the Olympic Stadium.

It was an incredible journey, from being a little kid watching the Olympics, and then being able to fulfil that dream. That is what the Olympics Games are all about.

The 1990s was such an incredible and exciting time. Things were happening so fast.

We were the first side to play a World Cup in 1994, down in Sydney, in the same stadium that was used for the 2000 Olympics. And then we were the first hockey team to represent South Africa at the Olympics in 1996 in Atlanta in the USA. Everything was a little bigger and better, it was almost over the top.

We were star struck in some ways. We got to meet Bill Clinton, Arnold Schwarzenegger … there were so many sideshows. But from a hockey point of view, it was an incredible experience.

From a team perspective, it was also quite a journey. We had to wait on Sam Ramsamy and Nocsa (the National Olympic Committee of South Africa) to make the call. There were some tense moments, and then only to get the endorsement after we became African champions six months before we had to go.

The arrangements were crazy after that. I spent five months in Pietermaritzburg training with a few of the Natal boys, and we had another contingent in Johannesburg. It was incredible!

How do you think the team will fare in Paris?

We have a very good side. You don’t want to look too much into the recent 2-2 result against Belgium. I don’t think the teams show too much in terms of short-corner routines, because all the games are recorded.

From a South African point of view, we don’t spend enough money on preparing our boys. But what we do know is that the passion will always be there. The desire, the togetherness, you can never discount that.

I remember our first game in Atlanta, we drew with Australia 1-all. Brian Myburgh pulled off, like, 20 saves in goal, and then with eight minutes to go, Greg Nicol got one chance, and nailed it, and we drew against the side that eventually got the bronze.

There will be plenty of passion and adrenaline at the start, but it is the momentum that needs to be sustained. We beat Germany at the last Olympics in Tokyo, but it’s the consistency of going on and being able to get five results.

We have the game-breakers, we have the skills. We play a nice attacking style of hockey, in comparison to previous years where we held back a little, and that’s nice to see at the highest level.

Talking about Greg Nicol, he is one of your 1996 teammates that will be in Paris …

It’s amazing. Greg is, of course, coaching the Black Sticks (New Zealand). He has got Gregg Clarke involved, who was with the Indian side that got bronze at the last Olympics.

Craig Fulton was with the Belgian side last year, and now he is with India. And Paul Revington is with the Great Britain side, so there’s plenty of South Africans involved with various sides at the Olympics.