Sandile Ngcobo believes his Blitzboks side should get a final shot at qualifying for the Olympic Games next year after falling at the final hurdle in Zimbabwe.
The Springbok Sevens let slip a second opportunity to qualify for next year’s Paris Olympics after losing to Kenya in the final of Rugby Africa qualifiers on Sunday.
However, if given clearance from governing body Sascoc, the Blitzboks may get one final opportunity next year in June as 12 teams will fight it out for one spot in the Olympic repechage tournament, which will be held in Monaco.
“It was a really disappointing finish to a tournament we prepared extremely hard for,” said Ngcobo.
“To lose like this after having played some very clinical and well executed rugby in the build up to the final is a very hard pill to swallow.
“We always aim to make South Africa proud and to come to this Olympic qualifier and fall short is extremely disappointing. We need to become better at converting the hard work we put in to get the results that should come with it.
“We will now begin preparations for the SVNS Series that starts in December, then ready ourselves for the repechage where we have a last chance to qualify to go to Paris, if we are granted the opportunity and can get the job done.”
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The Blitzboks claimed a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and a gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Coventry.
Ngcobo feels their record at the Olympics should aid the decision to give them another shot at qualifying.
“This hurt even more knowing that we are medal contenders, but sadly we did not show that in that final game,” he said.
“This team can be gold medal contenders, we showed that at the Commonwealth Games last year, but we just could not put it together on Sunday when it mattered most and that was very disappointing.”
Photo: Twitter: @Blitzboks