The 2018 Men’s Hockey World Cup is being held from 28 November 2018 to 16 December 2018 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, India.
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As Bhubaneswar, Odisha, hosts the 14th Men’s Hockey World Cup 2018 from 28 November 2018 till 16 December 2018, the South African Hockey team visits SOS Children’s Village Bhubaneswar to up the excitement of the tournament.
The team arrived at the children’s village on 5 December 2018 and was received by children, SOS Mothers and other co-workers. They were welcomed with the traditional Indian Tilak Ceremony and were gifted a coconut along with an SOS India Cap as they entered. The welcome ceremony was followed by a village tour, wherein Village Director Mr. Ajaya Dash briefed the players about SOS India and its concept. While the players were thrilled to witness the family based care received by once parentless and abandoned children, their interaction with SOS Mothers and children made the visit overwhelming. Additionally, a cultural programme was also organised for all the guests. As children performed the Odissi Dance, some of the players volunteered to join them on stage and dance with them. It was special for both, the children and the South African Hockey team!
The team presented a hockey stick to the Village Director as a token of honour and praised the brilliant talent of children at SOS Children’s Village Bhubaneswar.
South African Hockey Team Captain Timothy Drummond addressed the audience towards the end of the programme and requested the audience to support them for their upcoming match on 8 December 2018. He added, “We support the child care concept of SOS India and wish them all the best for the future.”
Soon after concluding the programme, a group photograph of the team with all children, SOS Mothers and staff was taken.