With the tournament underway in Cape Town, the Rhinos built momentum in front of a home crowd at GrandWest Ice Station.
Cape Town, South Africa (17 April 2026) – South Africa’s national ice hockey team, the Rhinos, had their moment here, as they compete in front of a home crowd this week.
With the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship Division IIIA taking place in Cape Town, the boys in green and gold geared up to bring the heat on the ice at GrandWest Ice Station. In a big clash against Türkiye, local fans got a rare chance to see the national side in action on home soil.
For assistant captain Jean-Michel van Doesburgh, representing South Africa goes far beyond just the game.
“Representing South Africa is something I don’t take lightly. It’s bigger than just playing hockey. It’s about carrying the badge, the people, and the journey that got me here. It’s about showing that we belong on this stage.”
Based in Cape Town, van Doesburgh’s journey into the sport is as unique as it gets. From inline hockey beginnings to a chance moment that saw him handed a pair of ice skates and stepping onto the ice the very next day. Seventeen years later, he’s still driven by the same love for the game, now sharing that passion with his wife, who also represents the national team.
On the other side of the leadership group is Dion Phakathi, whose connection to the sport runs just as deep.
“I’ve been part of the South African national setup for 11 years. The experience has been nothing short of amazing. To be straight, this game is my life. It’s all I know.”
Phakathi, who hails from Kempton Park, was introduced to ice hockey at just six years old through his father, who managed an ice rink. Since then, the sport has shaped not only his career but also his mindset.
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“Game after game, I put my body on the line for this.”
With teams from across the globe competing in the tournament, the stakes are high, and every match counts as South Africa looks to make its mark.
The bigger picture at play here is growing the sport locally and building momentum through moments like this.
And that’s where the fans come in.
Cape Town locals are encouraged to support the Rhinos. For those who can’t make it to the rink, matches are streamed live on IIHF.tv, making it easy for supporters across the country to get behind the team.
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