The Vereeniging-born 36-year-old Pieterse previously stated that the Olympic Games in Tokyo which was scheduled for later this year would be his swansong.

Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, the global showpiece in Japan was postponed by a year.

Pieterse told OFM Sport that with the Olympics begin postponed by a year his retirement plans have also changed.

“My commitment to SA Hockey is still until the Olympics. Even though it is postponed until next year I’m still committed and I will maybe retire after the Olympics.

“It has moved the goal a little but I am still in full-swing with the squad, I am still very involved and I am still very hungry to play in that last Olympics.

“For me, it wasn’t a time factor, but I felt that as the South African men’s team we still had unfinished business at the Olympics, and that was also a bit of a personal challenge for me.

“At this stage I am also absolutely enjoying my hockey, and when the reality kicked in that I would be finished in August this year it was quite sad for me to think that I would done with international hockey.

“It is actually a bit of blessing in disguise that I can still play top hockey for one more year and may I be fit and in-form to be picked.

“I’m still very excited to get there. We’ve good such a good vibe in our squad and we’ve shown over the last couple of years that we’ve got good momentum and we’ve got a great coach at the moment.

“The bottom-line is I’m enjoying my hockey, the dreams is to still play at next year’s Olympics and I’m fully committed to that.”

Pieterse played in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, and has also played in three World Cups.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport