Pereira, a chartered accountant who played 49 tests for SA and has his own accounting practice, said that his stepping down was primarily due to the absence of a primary sponsor, which had limited his plans for the team's preparation ahead of the 2014 World Cup. Pereira ends his tenure after successfully competing in the FIH World League round two and semi-finals as well as the Africa Cup event, which saw the team qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
SAHA CEO Marissa Langeni said the national body would be discussing the men's head coach position at their upcoming executive board meeting this weekend and will make an announcement thereafter.
The new coach will have to hit the ground running with a number of immediate commitments that are in place leading up to the World Cup in The Hague. The team will travel to Argentina in February for a test match series, play a series against world number one Germany in Cape Town in March, whereafter the team will travel to the 23rd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia.
"The South African Hockey Association appreciates the good working relationship with Charlie over the last year and we wish him well in his future endeavours," Langeni said.
