We have “survived” the immense difficulties facing our sport ( like many of the other “micro sports” ) and have strived to fully integrate the sport in terms of demographics as well as regional presence. It is a “big challenge” , one I feel we are winning , but not at the rate we would like to see it grow at.
We have identified that , like everything else in life, business has to play a major part in this process . We realize that the more people we have on board and “pulling in the same direction” the better the movement will be.
We are excited about the prospect of a World Cup, we are hungry to grow the sport and we are passionate about Roller Hockey.
We are hoping to “ convert” as many people as we possibly can.
It is our ambition to develop Roller Hockey into a realizable force that can be measured both locally and abroad.
The advent of a World Cup in South Africa , coupled with the support of the International Hockey community ( in terms of logistics and technical assistance ) , will undoubtedly market our sport and renew a mass interest in the game.
It will most certainly provide the vehicle that is needed to take the sport to the next level in a realizable time.
The World Cup is not ours, it belongs to South Africa. It is part of the rainbow nation .
We have identified that the business sector needs to play an active role in assisting us to take Roller Hockey to the next level and we have consequently approached Mr. Butityi Konki to help and lead us in this initiative.
Mr. Konki has gracefully accepted our request and taken task to hand.
In line with our International support ( from the World Body and Hockey community ) , Brazil has invited and subsidized a South African representation to the 2007 edition of Copa America.
We will undoubtedly gain from this in terms of Hockey experience , but more so from an organizational perspective (in light of a World Cup hosting event).
We have therefore deemed it necessary to invite the chair of Sports and Recreation to accompany us to Brazil so as to get an insight to the game and our global positioning and support . ( please refer to Annexure F )
We want the committee to endorse our bid to become a recognized sport in South Africa.
We are currently awaiting integration into SASCOC officially as part of Rollersports SA. We have been in limbo for 1 year now and have been told that we will be reviewed in June 2008 only. We feel that this could very well dampen our efforts as we have now finally gathered momentum and support both locally and internationally.
Lastly we have been awarded the World Cup for 2008. the CIRH (international governing body) has given us their full support and believe in us. The World Cup is crucial to our development and future of the sport.
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