The King’s College and Preparatory School in Bryanston has a golden boy in their midst.
Matthew Pretorius who is currently in Grade 11, is reaching new heights on the hockey field.
Starting out as a defender in his younger years, Pretorius honed his skills in goalkeeping and grew to love the position as he got better.
With many accolades under his belt, Pretorius is currently playing in the Northside Gryphons U18A Johannesburg outdoor hockey league. His indoor hockey career has him representing the Pro Series Indoor (PSI) Gauteng Gryphons where he has been invited for regional trials taking place in December.
“I’m very excited about it [selection] and at the same time I was shocked,” he said. “I decided that I liked that position but I was never that good until I actually started playing more. The more I played the better I got and then I started playing indoor hockey. It was a new experience for me so I had to get used to playing hockey in a different way which was pretty exciting too.
”Having experienced some stumbling blocks along the way, Pretorius persevered to pursue his passion for the sport.
“During October last year, we’re not sure why, but I had an onset of optic neuritis in the left eye so I lost most of my vision. With not much depth deception and blurry vision, I was told by the neurologist at the time that I won’t be able to play hockey.
”He said this happened at an inconvenient time because just before the diagnoses he was selected to be part of the PSI indoor national team.
“I was told that I wouldn’t be able to play. I went to play anyway with low expectations and we managed to play quite well as a team. I also played my part so I was really surprised that I was still able to play the way I used to even though I was pretty much an eye down.”
He added that he learnt through time it was just a matter of learning different ways to play the game.
A resilient Pretorius said staying true to his faith had helped him walk this path.
“I owe it all to God because if I wasn’t on my journey with him I wouldn’t have been able to make it where I am and still be able to do what I love.”
Hopeful and ready for the future, he said there were new treatments he was trying to regain his vision.
“It’s a possibility but we just have to wait and see.”
Related articles:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/156172/team-culture-behind-uj-hockeys-success/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/243339/redhill-hockey-brothers-make-gauteng-gryphons-team/
