Half a dozen of season and dozens of memories for Logan

Langa-1920

After six seasons at the Steinhoff Maties Hockey Club and winning three Western Province Grand Challenge titles, defender Brad Logan has decided to move on.

Logan is one of a few players that have played their last season at Maties this year. Others include Pierre de Voux, Illse Davids, Dave Agar, Erin Hunter and Bronwyn Kretzmann. Logan has been part of the team that has been undefeated in the Grand Challenge since August 2012.

According to Logan the Maties hockey club is a wonderful place. “For two reasons: One being that it provides arguably the most professional hockey set-up in South Africa with fitness trainers and HP coaches. And two being that because their are five men’s teams and five women’s teams who get along fairly well it provides for an eventful social calendar throughout the years. So whatever it is you’re looking for in hockey, Maties has it.”

Logan has suffered an ankle injury last year and thought his last season at Maties is going to be a write off. “I ended up not playing hockey for about eight months and I had written 2015 off as a non-hockey year because I am also doing my Honours in Management Accounting and was going to battle to find time, and I was okay with that. I made it back from injury just in time to play USSA. I made the WP Pens team initially then got a late call up to the WP A-team, then won IPT and made the SA squad for the African Cup. So from nothing it turned out to be the best hockey year of my life and I couldn’t have wished to do it with better people.”

According to Logan he enjoys the social side of the game. “I’ve always been an advocate for the enjoyment factor. There is nothing better than playing competitive sport with your closest friends. It’s important to enjoy it, otherwise what’s the point? After spending the past year with the newer and younger guys and as I’ve started to age in the club it’s nice to see that from a social and competitive side, Maties hockey is in safe hands.”

“My final message to the Maties staying behind: Just enjoy it, keep flying the flag and don’t forget what makes the Maties special. Some of the best years of your life will be spent in that maroon vest.”

maties-4636

AFRIKAANS

Ses seisoene en dosyne herinneringe vir Logan

Na ses seisoene by die Steinhoff Maties Hokkieklub en drie Westelike Provinsie Groot Uitdaagliga-titels, het die verdediger Brad Logan besluit om aan te beweeg.

Logan is een van ‘n paar spelers wat hul laaste seisoen vanjaar by Maties gespeel het. Ander is Pierre de Voux, Illse Davids, Dave Agar, Erin Hunter en Bronwyn Kretzmann. Logan was deel van die span wat onoorwonne in die Groot Uitdaagliga is sedert Augustus 2012.

Volgens Logan is die Maties-hokkieklub ‘n wonderlike plek. “Daar is twee redes. Een is dat dit waarskynlik die mees professionele opset in Suid-Afrika is met fiksheid- en HP-afrigters. Tweedens is daar vyf manspanne en vrouespanne wat almal goed oor die weg kom en dit maak voorsiening vir ‘n propvol sosiale kalender regdeur die jaar. Wat jy ookal soek in hokkie, Maties het dit.”

Logan het verlede jaar ‘n enkelbesering opgedoen en het aanvanklik gedink dit was sy laaste seisoen by Maties. “Ek kon vir agt maande nie speel nie en het my 2015 afgeskryf wat hokkie betref. Ek was ook besig met my Hons-graad en gedink dit is seker ‘n goeie ding. Ek was okay daarmee. Ek het egter net betyds vir die USSA-toernooi my terugkeer na die astro gemaak. Ek is aanvanklik vir die WP Skiereiland-span gekies vir die nasionale manstoernooi. Ek is egter toe opgeroep vir die WP span en was deel van die sege by die nasionale toernooi. Na die toernooi is ek vir die SA span gekies om aan die Afrika Beker-toernooi deel te neem. So ‘n jaar wat sonder enige verwagtinge begin het, het die beste in my lewe geraak wat hokkie betref!”

Volgens Logan geniet hy ook die sosiale kant van die spel. “Ek het nog altyd ‘n voorstander vir die genot faktor. Daar is niks beter nie as om mededingende sport met jou beste vriende te speel. Dit is belangrik om dit te geniet, anders wat is die punt? Die afgelope jaar het ek baie tyd met die nuwe en jonger spelers in die span spandeer en dit is lekker om te sien dat die klub in goeie hande is!”

“My finale boodskap aan die Maties agterbly: geniet dit en moenie vergeet wat maak die Maties spesiaal nie. Sommige van die beste jare van jou lewe sal bestee word in die maroentrui.”

maties-5283

This entry was posted in Club. Bookmark the permalink.