Grit and determination for Hockey club

Newcastle sports facilities may not be super high-tech.

We might not boast AstroTurf or LED lights or other advanced infrastructure, but what our sportsmen and women do have is determination, indomitable iron will.

Grit and perseverance are what make Newcastle tops.

Newcastle Hockey Club players encapsulate this notion, consistently putting on big performances despite hailing from the proverbial ‘sticks’.

“Love of the sport is what sets our players apart.”

Explaining this statement, member Candice Bond said Newcastle players had proven time and again they had the heart to play until the final whistle.

This formula boosted locals to compete at South African Country Districts (SACD).

Five men from the KwaZulu-Natal Inlands team will take part in Limpopo, and another group of local women are off to Port Elizabeth soon.

From this competition, the SACD sides will be elected.

“The women came eighth in our first year at SACD and third last year.”

While there is confidence in local players to put on a big show in coming months, Mrs Bond said it remained a challenge to keep players at practices throughout the year.

She added the future of the club depends on young players.

“We want more players. If the school children don’t carry on the sport will die out.”

Speaking on developments within the club, Mrs Bond elaborated on the merging of Newcastle Hockey Club into the proposed Highlanders Sport Club.

The benefits of this union are said to be many.

“Our field is one of the best in Newcastle but it needs rolling and topsoil. I feel we will have better facilities next year so we can offer more.”

Newcastle hosted the annual Quadrangular Tournament earlier this year, a competition which is still being talked about owing to its success.

With better facilities and more resources, the sky might be the limit.

“There is a lot of negativity, but we try to be positive and get things done.”