Skipper Horne to light the way for SA hockey team

Zaahier Adams

When the South African senior men’s hockey team gathers in Paris for the upcoming Olympics, it is clear who will be assuming the role of tour guide in the City of Lights.

Team captain Keenan Horne will not only lead the team out on the park, but also off the field with the skipper being a resident of Paris.

The 32-year-old plays for the Jean Bouin Hockey Club and also works as a paralegal at Mayer Brown’s office in the French capital.

He can already feel the “massive buzz” that is building as the Games draw near.

“Being here in Paris, the city where the Olympic Games is coming up, is a massive opportunity. It’s a massive privilege. Not a lot of people get the opportunity to play in the Olympic Games,” Horne told the official Olympic website.

“There is a massive buzz and a great atmosphere around the city. It’s an awesome place, and I’m privileged to live there. I just need to brush up a little on my French. (I’m) enjoying the croissants and baguettes, but I won’t overindulge, so don’t tell the coach.”

After serving as vice-captain at the previous Olympic Games in Tokyo three years ago, Horne will now lead a confident SA team in Paris.

The men in green and gold finished their campaign at the FIH Hockey Nations Cup in Poland last month on a high note with a 4-3 victory over Pakistan to claim the bronze medal.

Horne was in excellent form during the tie against Pakistan, with the skipper setting up Sam Mvimbi for the opener before finishing superbly to score the decisive third goal.

With hockey not demanding the type of profile that is reserved for other team sports such as rugby and cricket in South Africa, Horne feels that winning a medal in Paris could be the game-changer the sport needs back home.

“South Africa, in general, is a very proud sporting nation, so for the team to win a medal would just project the sport,” Horne said.

“A lot of our team sports have won World Cups. Rugby is doing well, cricket is doing well, so for hockey to do that, I think that’s the next step that we need to be taken more seriously.”

The SA team will face European Champions the Netherlands in their pool opener on July 27. The two sides played in a thrilling contest in Tokyo at the last Olympics.

The second game is against former SA coach Paul Revington’s Great Britain team the following day, before they take on Germany on July 30.

The action continues the next day against Spain before wrapping up the pool stages with a clash against the hosts France on August 2.