Bok women left in the cold as Sascoc pulls the plug on Olympic dream
The Olympic dream of the Springboks Women’s Sevens side has been shattered despite qualifying for the showpiece.
This follows the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc)’s decision not to send the team to the event in Tokyo in 2020.
The SA team, better known as Imbokodo, thought they had done the country proud when they qualified for the Olympics by beating Kenya 15-14 at the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens competition at Mustapha Ben Jannet Stadium in Monastir, Tunisia on Sunday.
Imbokodo captain Zintle Mpupha, a former Border women’s rugby captain, said the players were devastated when informed that they would not be representing the country at the Olympics.
“We were simply told that we are not medal hopefuls so we are not going,” she said.
Mpupha said the players were gutted by the decision as they have worked hard to realise their Olympic dreams.
“We have worked so hard, and to get such treatment from Sascoc is disappointing.
“Going to such international tournaments is how we are going to grow and develop our rugby as a country.”
However, Sascoc refuted the claims that they have intentionally blocked the women’s team from going to Tokyo.
Sascoc spokesperson Qondisa Ngwenya said Imbokodo knew long before they began their Africa Women’s Sevens Olympic qualification that they would not form part of the SA team heading to Tokyo next year.
He emphasised the qualification criteria were decided two years in advance and communicated with the federations. “Imbokodo knew long before they started competing this season that they are not going to the Olympics.
“We’ve been in consultation with [Saru CEO] Jurie Roux about this,” said Ngwenya.
He added that Imbokodo should improve their world rankings before they can head to any Olympics.
The Imbokodo team has recently enjoyed successes in three international competitions this past season, something that Mpupha felt could not be overlooked, especially by Sascoc.
Imbokodo scored a total of 182 points in six matches and only conceded 14 tries at the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens.
SA Rugby Union (Saru) has intervened in the impasse to no avail.
Roux said the body had been discussing the matter with Sascoc for a while.
“We also asked for the sports ministry’s assistance but all to no avail,” he said.
“This is hugely disheartening, not just for South African Rugby but for women’s sport in general in our country.”
So far other teams that have been affected by Sascoc’s controversial criteria are the men’s hockey squad and the rowing team.