Belgotex Elite Club Challenge – We are Back

Belgotex Elite Club Challenge – We are Back

When peering into the periodic table, you will find that element number 8 is oxygen. It's no coincidence that the most important element to survival and the number of Belgotex Elite Club Challenges are exactly the same. Yes the 8th Belgotex Elite Club Challenge is the hockey family what oxygen is to humanity. Necessity.

After the global pandemic tore up the script, the calendar and opportunity for many we are delighted that in 2022 the countries favourite club tournament is back. The Belgotex Elite Club Challenge, in partnership with SPAR and hosted by Riverside, will see 8 mens and 6 women’s teams fight it out for the title of best club in South Africa.

In the men’s tournament defending champions and hosts Riverside will once again spearhead the challenge. They are joined by Old Eds, Wanderers, Western Province Cricket Club and Beaulieu return from the prior event, while the compliment of teams is concluded by the inclusion of Phoenix, Kearsney and PHSOB Hockey. Each club has a distinct brand of hockey and with so much contrast it will offer a fantastic challenge to the players and the coaches as well as a spectacle of hockey talent to the men.

In the women’s tournament the Crusaders from Johannesburg return to defend the crown they won pre-covid, but they will do it without several national players who are currently on duty at the FIH Hockey World Cup in Amsterdam and Terrassa. The compliment of teams will see Western Province Cricket Club, Wanderers, Kearsney, Phoenix and Riverside compete for the 2022 title.

While the tournament is likely to include some of the finest hockey players in the countries producing some of the finest hockey battles, it’s the complete around the house package that truly separates the Belgotex Elite Club Challenge. The tournament will be live streamed by the ES Media Live team with SA Hockey and African Podcast Awards Finalist Tyron “Jabu” Barnard spear-heading the commentary team and award-winning Hockey the Podcast will have daily shows from the tournament. The umpire delegation will be the best of the best including Sean Rapaport before he heads over to theCommonwealth Games in Birmingham. Teams will also have the opportunity to have video referrals and the bells and whistles won’t stop there with many eye catching, game raising initiatives in place.

The Belgotex Elite Club Challenge separates it self from other tournaments as the focus is on the player experience. Club hockey is a vital cog in the South African Hockey machine and the Elite Club Challenge is designed to raise the profile and celebrate the history of club hockey in the country.

Wayne Phillips, the Chairman of the LOC for the Elite Club Challenge, is excited for the tournament to get underway:

“Club sport is the lifeblood of sport in the country.The Belgotex Elite Club Challenge is designed to support the South AfricanHockey landscape, by bringing club hockey to the forefront once again. We are so grateful for the support of Belgotex in aiding us to get bigger, better and brighter. The 2022 Belgotex Elite Club Challenge will be the best one yet!”

It promises to be a pulsating three days of action in Durban North with entertainment, action and non-stop appeal. If you are in the area come on down to the turf and show your support or follow on the streaming platforms. Remember to download the Sportivo App to track the scores, goal scorers and even more!

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