Bright future for young hockey players
With hockey sticks in hand, they took to the fields in masses.
They are the stars and professional hockey players of tomorrow and coaches like Brighty Mashaba, will help them on their way to achieve their dreams.
On Saturday, March 22 hockey players from 13 primary schools participated in the Human Rights Youth Hockey Festival at the Hockey Farm (Witbank).
Alex Mopana, Witbank Primary, St Thomas Aquinas, Laerskool Taalfees, Laerskool Kragbron, Laerskool Tasbetpark, Laerskool Panorama, Laerskool Reynorif, Witbank Christian Academy, Goedehoop, Oranje Gloed, Middelburg Primary and Highveld Ridge Primary were all represented at the festival.
The young hockey players had a blast, testing their skills on the field and making new friends. Coach Brighty led the way towards the fields where the teams participated in a few friendly matches.
“There are a whole lot of players here. For some of these kids it’s the first time they’ve played hockey or even held a hockey stick,” Brighty said proudly, as he watched a group practicing how to dribble with the ball. Brighty has been involved with the development of hockey for the past four years. The sport itself he enjoyed playing and coaching for more than 10 years.
Brighty can often be seen at Witbank Hockey Club or the Hockey Farm teaching the sport he loves so much.
“Two of the schools I’m currently involved with, to help this sport develop, is Witbank Primary and Alex Mopana School,” Brighty said. Hockey is becoming a more practiced sport in schools thanks to Brighty and the other coaches dedicating their time to teach new young players.
Brighty is also on the Executive Board for Hockey in Mpumalanga – part of the South African Hockey Association (SAHA). South African Hockey is about the administration, development and co-ordination of all activities of the game within South Africa in areas such as coaching, umpiring and playing – whether at internationals, provincials, clubs or schools.
South African Hockey is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the Africa Hockey Federation (AHF) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
South African Hockey sponsors many tournaments and hockey events across the country, such as the Human Rights Youth Hockey Festival.
After a few fun matches on Saturday, the young players enjoyed lunch and games around the pool at the Hockey Farm. Between the coaches and players it was hard to tell who was having the most fun.
