Addison van der Byl has spent years proving that setbacks do not define an athlete.

After working her way through B and C teams in her younger years, the Beaulieu College matric learner is now preparing to wear the green and gold on the international stage, a journey she said has been fuelled by relentless hard work, unwavering family support and a refusal to give up.

“Every day is just hockey, hockey, hockey, because I need to get to that place where I’m not behind anyone,” she said.

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The 18-year-old, who is part of the Allistar Fredericks Hockey Scholarship Programme, recently represented the Girls’ U18 Southern Gauteng Hockey Team at the prestigious National Interprovincial Tournament (IPT), held in Hilton, KZN, from June 29 to July 4.

The annual tournament brings together South Africa’s top school hockey players and is regarded as one of the highest levels of provincial competition in the country.

Her impressive performances at the tournament earned her selection to both the South African U18 High Performance Team and the South African Hockey 5s team.

On August 5, Addison will travel to Nairobi, Kenya, where she and her teammates will compete in the African qualifiers for a place at the FIH Hockey 5s Youth World Championship, scheduled for December.

“I was actually shocked,” she recalled of her selection. “All my years of playing hockey, I’ve always been put in the B teams and C teams, so I didn’t really know what to expect this year. When they called me into the A team, I was really happy. I thought all my hard work had finally paid off.”

Despite the breakthrough, Addison believes there is still plenty of work ahead.

“I can only really think that all my hard work has paid off once I reach the highest SA level. There’s still work I need to put in.”

Competing at the IPT gave her a taste of the country’s elite hockey talent.

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“It was a good opportunity to show everyone who I am and what I’m about,” she said. “It’s difficult because at school you might be one of the best players, but then you arrive at IPT, and you’re playing against the best of the best. Mentally, that’s a huge challenge.”

She believes her calmness under pressure, accurate passing and competitive spirit helped set her apart.

“I’ve always been told that I make great passes. I’m calm on the ball, and I control the game. People also like my aggression because I play with passion, and I think my passion for the sport helped me excel.”

Addison’s love for hockey began long before she stepped onto the field herself. Her mother, Tarryn, a former KZN hockey player, unknowingly inspired her daughter’s dream.

Grab a copy of Midrand Reporter’s print edition to read more about this Addison’s journey.

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