ST Mary’s DSG, Kloof’s high school SPAR Star of the Month is Grade 12 learner, Daniella De Oliveria.
Dani, as she is more affectionately known, was recently selected for the South African Women’s Indoor Hockey team and they played in the African Hockey Federation Indoor Cup 2021 in April.
Dani started playing hockey in Grade 2, among many other sports, but it was when she was in Grade 6 that she decided to concentrate solely on hockey after making the KZN coastals team for the first time. Her next big achievement was when she was selected as captain for the U13A KZN coastals side the following year.
Dani has many accomplishments in her hockey career so far and has achieved so much. To name a few, Dani was a part of the U13 PSI Panthers side which won gold in 2016. She played for St Mary’s DSG U13A side and they were the league winners that year and they placed 3rd in the Oranje Meisies Pietie Coetzee Primary School tournament 2017.
In 2017, Dani was selected as the vice captain for her U14 KZN elite side and they went on to win gold. The U14 PSI Panthers side, which Dani was a part of, also won gold that year.
In 2018 she was a member of the U16A KZN coastals side that won gold and went on to be selected for the U16 SA high performance squad. She also joined the U16 PSI Panthers side that won gold, was selected for the African All stars team as well as the touring squad. Her school hockey team, the U16A St Mary’s DSG Kloof team, were the league winners that year. Dani was awarded player of the year by St Mary’s that year too.
In 2019 Dani made the St Mary’s DSG 1st team and was given the most promising player award. She has also been a part of the Ladies Mynahs KZN side and was selected for African All stars team, the touring squad, continued to play for the St Mary’s DSG 1st team and played for Kearsney Club ladies first team, where she was awarded the junior player of the year. In 2020 Dani joined the Raiders Ladies Coastals side where they celebrated a gold win.
Dani enjoys playing both indoor and outdoor hockey and hopes to continue playing hockey for as long as she can. “I look up to my previous school coach, Kelly Reed, as she has had such an influence on my hockey career and has also faced challenges during hers,” said Dani.
Caxton Local Media Covid-19 reporting
