FEATURE
PLAYING THE LONG GAME
Fresh from Goalkeeper of the Tournament honours at the FIH Nations Cup, Cullin de Jager reflects on the setbacks, sacrifices and self-belief that have shaped his remarkable rise ahead of the Hockey World Cup.
By Karien Jonckheere
Photos courtesy of FIH / WorldSportPics. Video courtesy of FIH.
Not so long ago, Cullin de Jager wondered whether all the hard work would ever pay off.
He kept putting in the hours, training relentlessly, yet somehow always seemed to miss out. Then the breakthrough finally came, and now he ' s one of the first names on the South African men ' s hockey team sheet, most recently earning Goalkeeper of the Tournament honours at the FIH Nations Cup in Cape Town.
Attending a small school in Krugersdorp meant he largely flew under the radar, missing out on the usual provincial pathways. Then, just as he started university, the Covid pandemic struck, robbing him of the chance to represent South Africa at under-21 level.
But, despite others telling him it was time to move on and shift focus, the 25-year-old kept dreaming.
“ I would spend every minute I got on the astro, like extra sessions, six in the morning gym till 10 at night training. I just loved it and I always had that mentality that there ' s no way that I won ' t do it. I knew I was good enough, and the people that were in my corner were in my corner and saying that I can do it. And I just never quit,” explained the Morningside Hockey Club keeper. https:// drive. google. com / file / d / 1IoCFf2U6NrRkbmgiFt xBfj28SyKE0kZx / view? usp = drive _ link
De Jager makes the final save to hand the SA side a famous semi-final win over New Zealand at the FIH Nations Cup.
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