SPORT
Success breeds success
NWU Vaal Hockey
Ettienne van Rensburg
Success breeds success and nowhere is this truer than
on the hockey field on the Vaal Triangle Campus of the
North-West University (NWU Vaal). Hockey, as a priority sporting code on the Campus, grew from a single
team competing in the 7th league to three teams (two
women’s and one men’s team) competing in the South
Gauteng league.
Over the past four years the sport has seen a steady
progression and all credit goes to the management
team for their dedication and commitment towards the
development of hockey on the Campus. Heading-up
the team is Elsje de Jager (hockey and netball coordinator) together with the respective coaches: Sune van
der Linde (women’s first team), Chanel Meijer (women’s
second team) and Stanley Shabalala (men’s first team).
Four years ago the women’s first team competed in the
8th league and since then they have been promoted to
the prestigious Premier reserve league. “Although the
competition is very tough at this level we are motivated
to finish in the top two positions,” says De Jager and
explains that this will catapult the team into the Premier
league. The team’s chances of winning the B Division of
the USSA 2014 championship is also looking very promising after their second place standing during the 2013
championship.
The women’s second team also boasts a lot to be proud
of. The team has managed to better their standing from
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the 6th league to the 4th league in a period of just two
years. As from 2014, Chanel Meijer will coach the team
after JT Terblanche stepped down. To date this team is
unbeaten in their league.
In terms of men’s hockey great strides are taken to
ensure that the sport develops in accordance with the
achievements already experienced by the women’s
teams. Men’s hockey was introduced three years ago
and through the coaching of Stanley Shabalala the team
is currently playing in the 5th league. The immediate
goal – in terms of men’s’ hockey, is to introduce another
team to the league. The men’s team will be participating
in their first USSA championship from 29 June – 4 July.