South Africa's national paintball team finished 4th at the Paintball World Cup 2015 in Langkawi, Malaysia, a big step up from 13th at the first World Cup in Paris in 2013. It is South Africa's best result in the open Men's category in the UPBF record.
How the team was chosen
The criteria for 2015 were that players must be competing at the top level of South African paintball in the SARPL, must be able to work together as a team, and must be ambassadors for the sport and the country. SANPA confirmed an eight-player team in September, with a SANPA and SARPL representative and a pit crew travelling with it. The team entered both the Nations Cup and Division 1.
The Nations Cup
The team flew out on 26 October and arrived in Langkawi on 27 October. The tournament ran from 29 October to 1 November, and South Africa opened the Nations Cup field against the United States.
| Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Group | United States | Lost 4–2 |
| Group | Malaysia | Won 4–2 |
| Group | New Zealand | Won 4–0 |
| Group | India | Won 4–3, after trailing 3–1 |
| Quarter-final | Austria | Won 3–2 |
| Semi-final | United States | Lost 2–1 |
| Third-place match | Belgium | Lost 4–0 |
The United States won the tournament, France finished second and Belgium third, with South Africa fourth.
Division 1
Playing under the name Reaper/All Stars, the team also reached the Division 1 play-offs. It beat Datis in the last 16, lost to Cobra Kai in the quarter-finals, and finished 8th in Division 1. Cobra Kai ended second in the division, and Aisawan won it.
Thanks
The team was only able to compete because individuals and businesses helped with the paint it needed. SANPA thanked Business Flight Centre, Printegration and The Woods Paintball Field, and the individuals who fronted the money for paint so the team could keep playing.
What came next
Looking ahead, SANPA announced that in 2016 it would send both a U19 and a men's national team, chosen through SARPL-registered players, a SANPA skills assessment and invitation try-outs. See the U19 team's world cup in 2016 and the full results.
