The tournament in Nairobi carried more than a continental result for Prince Moeng. It also helped secure South Africa’s place at the first FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.

Prince, a Curro Bankenveld learner, represented South Africa at the U18 Hockey5s Youth Africa Cup in Nairobi, Kenya. The event was Africa’s qualifier for the global U18 Hockey5s tournament scheduled for December 2026.

According to information supplied to the school, Prince was selected for the South African U18 5s Squad and also for the South African U18 B Squad. He is expected to travel to Egypt in December 2026 to represent South Africa at the World Cup.

Prince Moeng (Right)

A new format on the continental stage

The Nairobi event marked the first continental youth championship in Africa played in the Hockey5s format.

Hockey5s uses five players per side, including a goalkeeper, on a smaller pitch than traditional 11-a-side hockey. The format produces a faster game, with players needing to make quick decisions in tight spaces.

For South Africa, the tournament ended with World Cup qualification. The boys’ team reached the final and finished second after a 6-5 defeat to hosts Kenya, with both finalists securing Africa’s places at the World Cup.

Representative pathway

Prince’s selection follows several years of provincial and representative hockey.

In 2023, he appeared in the Mpumalanga U16 IPT squad. By 2025, he had been selected for the Mpumalanga Senior Indoor Men’s A team while at Curro Bankenveld. He had also been selected for a PSI Africa All Stars Indoor Hockey team.

Those steps give context to his place in the South African U18 Hockey5s setup. The Nairobi tournament placed him in a fast international format, with qualification for a world event attached to the result.

For Curro Bankenveld, Prince’s selection adds a World Cup pathway to a school hockey story already linked to provincial and national recognition.