INLSA

South Africas Deen Magmoed, in white, squares off against Israels Avishi Geller while the referee looks on during an ice hockey game between the two countries. Israel won 6-5 after scoring in sudden-death extra time.

SIBUSISO NKOMO

Staff Reporter

IT’S NOT a sport that seems ideally suited to Cape Town’s climate, but the Mother City is playing host to this year’s men’s International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championship Division III.

While the city sweated in 30ºC heat yesterday, the ice rink at GrandWest was playing host to the first of a series of matches between teams from South Africa, Luxemborg, Israel, Greece, Turkey and Mongolia.

The host nation took on the Israelis, and the visitors ran out eventual winners. At full time, after three 20-minute periods, the score was 5-5. Israel scored in sudden death extra time for a win.

The tournament was opened by Western Cape Sports MEC Ivan Meyer, who said it was remarkable that South Africa had organised an ice hockey event in spite of its climate.

“Instead of having snowboarding we have sandboarding. Instead of skiing down the Swiss Alps, we have water-skiing at Theewaterkloof Dam.

“However, despite the lack of natural landscapes to support it, (hockey) has grown in South Africa from a recreational pastime to a professionally organised sport,” Meyer said.

IIHF president René Fasel said he was excited that the event was being held in Cape Town.

“It is encouraging to see that one of our championship events can be played in the southern hemisphere with such an array of teams taking part,” he said.

South Africa’s head coach, Ronnie Wood, said he hoped the home side’s performance in the tournament would propel the country into division two.

“Our objective is clear and, with a little good fortune along the way, there is no reason why we can't upset the seedings,” he said.

At the Division III Championship, the two best-placed teams are promoted to the following year’s Division II Championship.

South Africa will play three more matches: one against Turkey tonight, another against Luxembourg on Thursday and their final game against Greece on Sunday.

There are two matches every day at the GrandWest rink until Sunday.

sibusiso.nkomo@inl.co.za