Making hockey happen
The sport of field hockey is difficult to master but with time and training as well as enthusiasm it can be very rewarding. Nathi Masango knows this from first hand experience.
He plays for the eMalahleni club, the Bull Dogs, which are based at the Hockey Farm, as well as his school team at St Thomas Aquinas and he has also played for the Mpumalanga team twice.
His passion for hockey began several years ago in 2010 when he tried out for his school hockey team and was selected. He remembers getting very nervous before his first game, which was against Laerskool Kragbron.
Since then he has learned so much from his coaches at his school and at the Hockey Farm, where he practises as much as he can. “I still get nervous before a game sometimes, but I am also excited,” said Nathi.
His short term goal is to qualify for the Mpumalanga team again this year, but at the moment they are just keeping fit for the upcoming season that starts in April. He goes to gym and jogs regularly as well as keeping his skills sharp through training at the club.
“There is a big difference between playing in school hockey and playing on a provincial level,” said Nathi commenting on the intensity of the games. The worst part of hockey for him is the injuries. He has seen some pretty bad injuries happen in his four years of play, but there are too many reasons to enjoy the game that the difficult parts don’t seem so bad.
Another reason why he enjoys hockey is because it is a team game. He enjoys meeting new people and connecting with other hockey players. Even on his own level of play there are players that he admires for their skill.
St Thomas is planning a hockey tour to Europe where the sport is just as big, if not bigger. He hopes to learn as much as possible during the two week trip.
He has his goals set high, as he hopes to one day play hockey for South Africa in the Olympics.
