London ( CNN ) -- British field hockey authorities have been forced to apologize `` unreservedly '' to South Africa after an old national anthem from the days of apartheid was played before an international game this week . Great Britain Hockey called the mistake `` sensitive '' and `` unfortunate . '' `` It was completely shocking , '' the chief executive of South Africa hockey said of hearing the pre-1994 anthem `` Die Stem '' being played before Tuesday 's game in London . `` I thought , 'What is that ? ' And when I listened further , I realized it was 'Die Stem . ' I could n't believe my ears , '' Marissa Langeni said Thursday . Some of the younger players on the team did n't even know what song was being played , she said . The anthem dates from the days of white minority rule over South Africa . A new national anthem , `` Nkosi Sikelel ' iAfrika , '' meaning `` God Bless Africa , '' was added alongside it when Nelson Mandela became president in 1994 , and the two songs were combined in 1997 . `` For the majority of South Africans , we do n't relate to that anthem , '' Langeni said . `` It was the anthem of a small section of our community . It 's as good as not having played an anthem . '' `` If they flew the old flag of the country , I would be equally surprised , '' she said . Tournament organizer Great Britain Hockey on Wednesday published `` a full and unreserved apology to the South African women 's hockey team and their supporters for mistakenly playing the wrong national anthem before South Africa 's match with Great Britain . '' GBH Chief Operating Officer Sally Munday blamed the mistake on `` a contractor responsible for sports presentation at the event . '' She said organizers had not checked the anthem in advance and took full responsibility for the mistake . Langeni said she was very satisfied with the apology , calling the error `` a bit of an administrative blunder . '' South Africa beat Great Britain 3-1 in an upset .
South Africa 's field hockey team is shocked to hear an old anthem being played . The song dates from the era of white minority rule before Nelson Mandela became president . British hockey apologizes `` unreservedly '' for the mistake .