While little is known about underwater hockey, South Africa continues to build its rip-roaring reputation in the sport, having had successful international tournament appearances in the past.
At least 200 players with a knack for underwater antics have descended on Port Elizabeth for the hosting of the 2018 Inter-Club Championships at the Newton Park swimming pool.
The tournament, which got under way on Thursday, sees 17 underwater hockey clubs from across South Africa doing battle in search of the best pool hockey club in the country.
More than 20 teams are representing the various national clubs over the three days of competition, culminating in the selection of the U19 and U23 sides to travel to England for the world championships in 2019.
“The sport originated in Britain in the 1950s, when the navy divers were looking for something to keep them fit during the winter season, and so the sport was born,” national Underwater Hockey Federation president Heine Engelbrecht said.
“In South Africa, people started playing the sport in the 70s.
“The sport is still small, due to a lack of facilities, but it is showing considerable growth.”
The rules are simple: teams are made up of 10 players, with only six allowed in the water at any given time, and four substitutes, who are used on a rotational basis.
Teams square off with most of the action taking place at least two metres below the water’s surface, for two periods of 15 minutes, with a two-minute break in between.
For this specific tournament, Engelbrecht said teams first played round robin matches on Thursday and Friday to determine log positions.
Saturday will see the top eight teams from the men’s division advancing to the Cup playoffs, while the next eight in each division will do battle in the Shield playoffs.
On the women’s side, with only eight teams competing, the top four advance to the Cup playoffs, while the next four advance to the Shield.
“What is nice is that we have invited many international players from countries like France, Portugal and Turkey who play for the various clubs.
“Overseas the sport is massive. You have facilities purpose-built for the sport, to cope with weather conditions.
“In South Africa, we are still fairly small. We have about 500 senior players belonging to the federation, while the junior side has about 300 members, so it is gaining popularity among the masses.”
Engelbrecht said the sport was made for anyone, regardless of age.
“Whether you are 15 or 50, you can play the sport. It is a non-contact sport. We have a lot of swimmers who might not have made it on the national circuit, but want to stay active in the water, so they play underwater hockey.”
Despite not being a mainstream sport, South Africa have had their fair share of success over the years, with the masters men’s team claiming a silver medal at the world championships in Canada, while the women claimed a gold medal on home soil when the world championships were hosted in Stellenbosch in 2016.
Joshua Wattrus, who is originally from East London, but lives in the Bay and studies industrial engineering at Nelson Mandela University, is representing the Durban Rebels and said he was excited to compete in the competition.
“I started playing the sport at the age of 11, starting out in East London, and I took to it simply because of the speed and technical skills associated with the sport. Holding your breath underwater for prolonged periods is rather challenging. In addition to that, the sport is for everyone, no matter your age or build.”
Engelbrecht said the junior national competition would be held at the same venue in February.