Fifteen club members were selected for South Africa at the 2026 World Masters Hockey World Cup, proving elite sport doesn’t stop with age.
Johannesburg, South Africa (22 June 2026) – On any given weekend at Benoni Northerns Hockey Club, you’ll find children chasing balls on the sidelines, parents preparing for their own matches and teammates relaxing after the final whistle.
This year, that same community spirit will be on display on one of the sport’s biggest stages, with 15 club members selected to represent South Africa at the 2026 World Masters Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium. For many athletes, representing South Africa is a dream that feels out of reach once their younger playing days are behind them. But for a group of players from Benoni Northerns Hockey Club, that dream is about to become reality.
Speaking to members of Benoni Northerns Hockey Club, including chairperson and player Kyle Cameron, sisters Christine Roos and Sheila-Ann Robey, the picture that emerges is not just one of sporting achievement, but of a tight community built on family.
For some, the experience began with hesitation. One of the players reflected that they nearly did not attend national trials at all, only deciding to go after encouragement from a teammate. From there, the process moved through multiple stages of selection, squad changes and final confirmation.
“It really does reduce you down to your bare bones. You ask yourself, ‘Am I good enough? Do I want this?’”
The emotional weight of the moment when selections were finally announced was described as overwhelming.
“When our names were finally confirmed, the relief was incredible. I haven’t experienced joy like that in a very long time.”
For sisters the experience carries added meaning as they prepare to represent South Africa together after previously playing together at school before their hockey journeys took different paths.
“To experience an international team environment together is something truly special,” they reflected. “We’ve gone through different stages in our careers, and to come back together at this level makes it incredibly meaningful.”
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“It can be very tough with so much hockey, a full-time job and a family on top of that,” he said. “It’s just about managing time and making sure you’ve got the right people behind you.”
He added that much of his ability to stay involved at this level comes down to support systems both at home and within the club environment.
“It really comes down to having the right team behind you, on and off the field.”
Across all three stories, they shared the same goal and a reminder that masters hockey has become a space where sporting ambition does not end with age, but instead evolves.
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