Seven players from Steinhoff Maties hockey club have been chosen to represent South Africa at the u21 World Cup in India later in the year.
Tarryn Glasby, Dani Cairns and Christine Seggie have been selected for the SA u21 women’s team, while the men are Alex Stewart, Robert McKinley, Matt de Sousa and Charles Bowren. Stewart will captain the SA u21 men’s team for the tournament held in December.
“Captaining this team is a massive honour and privilege,” said Stewart. “One of the reasons is that it’s evident that this u21 team that we have now, is going to be the future of SA hockey and to be able to lead this team and to start the next generation is quite an honour. I also believe that we are the first team that does not have to worry about issues like quotas, because we were all born after 1995. It really is pretty special to be the leader of this team. We have also eight players in the team that got our first caps for the senior team at the start of the year when the SA men’s senior side played against Ireland, Belgium and Canada. We all played really well and got some vital experience.”
Stewart is the second Matie to lead the SA u21 team the past few years after Dylan Swanepoel in 2013. Swanepoel is the current Maties men’s captain. “To be the leader and captain of this team is a big task, but I believe I am up for it. I’m getting great mentorship from Dylan, senior players, coaches and my dad!” Stewart is the son of legendary Matie Leith Stewart who also played hockey for South Africa.
AFRIKAANS
7 Steinhoff Maties vir SA o.21-span gekies
Sewe spelers van Steinhoff Maties Hokkieklub is gekies om Suid-Afrika later vanjaar by die o.21-Wêreldbeker-toernooi in Indië te verteenwoordig.
Tarryn Glasby, Dani Cairns en Christine Seggie is gekies vir die SA o.21-vroue, terwyl die mans Alex Stewart, Robert McKinley, Matt de Sousa en Charles Bowren is. Stewart is die kaptein van die SA o.21-manspan vir die toernooi in Desember.
“Om die kaptein van die span te wees is ‘n reuse-eer en voorreg,” sê Stewart. “Een van die redes is dat dit duidelik is die o.21-span wat ons nou het, is die toekoms van Suid-Afrikaanse hokkie. En om die span te lei is ‘n groot eer. Ek glo ook dat ons die eerste span is wat nie hoef te bekommer oor kwessies soos kwotas nie, want ons is almal gebore na 1995. Dit is regtig spesiaal om die span se leier te wees. Ons het ook agt spelers in die span wat vroeër vanjaar ons debuut vir die senior span gemaak het toe die SA span teen Ierland, België en Kanada gespeel het. Ons het goed gespeel en baie waardevolle ervaring opgedoen.”
Stewart is die tweede Matie om die SA o.21-span lei die afgelope paar jaar na Dylan Swanepoel in 2013. Swanepoel is die huidige Maties mans-kaptein. “Om die leier en kaptein van die span te wees is ‘n groot taak, maar ek glo ek gereed daarvoor. Ek kry baie leiding en raad van Dylan, die senior spelers, afrigters en my pa!” Stewart is die seun van die legendariese Matie Leith Stewart, wat ook vir Suid-Afrika hokkie gespeel het.