South Africa is one of 22 countries who, over the course of five grueling days, will compete against each other at the 2024 ICF Canoe Polo World Championships set to take place in Deqing, China from October 15 to 20.
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The SA senior men’s team consists of five players from Gauteng, one player from Knysna, which falls under the Eastern Cape Canoe Union, and one from the Western Cape. Dabulamanzi Canoe Club paddler and captain of the SA men’s canoe polo team Niel Burger said they are extremely proud to represent the country’s canoe polo community on the world stage.
Burger’s lifelong passion for coaching and sports is said to shine through in his extensive involvement in canoe polo. Beginning his journey at age 15, he swiftly earned a spot on the South African U21 team. Today, he stands as a key figure in the sport, proudly serving, not only as the captain of the our national men’s squad, but as head of Gauteng canoe polo, and holding a seat on the South African canoe polo committee. His leadership and commitment are described as being instrumental in propelling canoe polo’s development within the country.
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Reflecting on his sporting journey, he said, “while I was involved in various sports during my school years, canoe polo stood out because of its unique blend of teamwork, strategy, and physical challenge.” The intensity and excitement of the game fueled his passion, and now he is dedicated to share this love with young athletes to help grow and develop the sport. Holding an International Canoe Federation Level 1 coaching qualification, Burger leverages his expertise to nurture new talent and inspire future canoe polo enthusiasts.
As the South African men’s team prepares to compete at the world championships, Burger is both excited and determined. Facing teams from Denmark, Switzerland, and Hong Kong, China, the event promises to be a rigorous challenge with nine games over five days. “We’ve done a lot of hard prep and are looking forward to coming back with valuable experience to share with our players. We have high expectations and are committed to making our country proud,” he said. The team’s dedication is said to be palpable, and their journey promises to bolster canoe polo’s prominence in South Africa.
Burger said there are not a lot of international grade tournaments in our part of the world, so they often have to travel to Europe to get top-notch polo exposure. He was lucky enough to spend about five months this year in Europe and London, gaining and bringing back as much polo experience as possible in preparation for the World Champs.
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