Hockey is here to Stay

Evany van Wyk
Diana Hamalwa

Every pro was once an amateur, every expert was once a beginner, so dream big and start now. This is one of the many quotes sent to the Namib High School (NHS) 1st Hockey Teams. This year the school is privileged to have the strength of teacher and hockey coach Mr. Calitz as well as the commitment of Coach Juané Grobler. Now, the school not only has a girls hockey team but for the first time they have a boys hockey team.

Coach Juané has worked with the school’s girl hockey team before and was not impressed with their attitude. She always says that attitude is vital and would rather lose a game than win with a bunch of snobs. She has played the game before and is not a read the rules type of coach. Coach Juané plans to achieve skills and not to necessarily win every game. She plans on changing the team’s attitude.

The hard work already shows as some of the players were chosen for the Erongo Regional teams in their respective age groups. Zachary Philander, Daniel du Toit, Larian Kotze (captain of the NHS 1st boys Hockey Team) and Zainu Burger have been selected for the U/16 team boys team. Shannon Victor, Janica van der Merwe and Samantha Engelbrecht (captain of the NHS 1st Girl’s Hockey Team) were chosen for the U/16 girls team.

The team hosted a Hockey Clinic with the doctors being coach Calitz’s sons, Stephan and Riaan, who both play for their university. They taught the teams how to perform short corners, dribble balls, ball skills and how to get past a person in front of them. This was useful and appreciated by the team as most of the players are beginners.

The Namib Mirabilis asked Coach Juané about the future of the team and she said it has come far with the team and some players are showing improvement. She is proud of every player and said, "I enjoy every moment with my team, it is not only hockey practise but also a family gathering. I would not exchange my team for any other team."

Hockey is a commitment done not only to the team but to the player because they grow with the team. Character, responsibility, physical and mental strength grows when people play hockey. Coach Calitz is a big believer of balance and urges learners to participate in a sports code for them to balance it out with their academics. Balance is key.