Two players from the Steinhoff Maties Hockey club were part of the team that this past weekend won the first ever South African Premier Hockey League.
James Drummond and Jacques Bleeker played for the Maropeng Cavemen that won the final against the Addo Elephants 2-0. Other Maties’ who played in the PHL were Keenan Horne, Reece Arendse (Garden Route Gazelles), Luke Schooling (Drakensburg Dragons), Alex Stewart, Matt de Sousa, Charlie Bowren and Rob McKinley (SA u21 team as Golden Gate Gladiators); Heather McEwan, Natasha Rootenburg, Nicole la Fleur (Wineland Wings), Tarryn Glasby, Christine Seggie, Dani Cairns and Alegra Dijkstra (SA u21 team as Namaqualand Daisies). The Gazelles finished third after a victory over the Gladiators, while the Wineland Wings also won bronze.
“To be honest I had no idea what to expect from the PHL, but it was tempting so gave my name up for the drafting. Especially after winning USSA I was amped to play some more hockey,” said Drummond.
“I got drafted in the first round of the process by the Maropeng Cavemen. It is pretty much a Johannesburg core team and I realised that I will experience something very different. Bonus was my Maties teammate Jacques Bleeker also being in the squad. It was clear from the start that our focus was to be a close-knit team and that each player worked towards the same goal. In Rassie Pieterse we had a strong leader who made sure we all remained focus and on the same page. It was a very interesting experience being part of a team in which we had very little in common, but for our love of hockey! Having been a Province boy all my life it was a great experience to play in the same team as players I have never played with before. I was very lucky to be part of the Cavemen.”
First year Matie Schooling played for a team who struggled in the PHL, but that did not take away from the big learning experience and opportunity it was for the youngster. “It was really an epic experience being exposed to such a quality range of players from across the country that you’d never really expect to play with, especially with the senior national players from our team that really helped me with certain aspects of game. The professionalism of the league was also really awesome, despite a long and successful season for Maties and all the high performance exposure we get, it was incredible having the opportunity to see what the top level of hockey looks like on a national scale. I’m really looking forward to next year after the success of the inaugural league.”
Drummond also mentioned the excitement that this league brought to hockey in South Africa. “The PHL gives hockey players something more to play for. I have been playing hockey for the past 10 years and ever since I could remember this is what players have been asking for: a professional league for local hockey. The ultimate goal is for hockey to be a professional sport. This year was just the first step I believe and I am sure it will only get bigger and better. Next year is going to be epic after the groundwork that has been done this year. I think more players will want to be involved after missing out due to injury or other commitments. The 2016 PHL was a treat and pleasure to be part of.”
AFRIKAANS
Steinhoff Matie-spelers deel van seëvierend PHL-span
Twee spelers van die Steinhoff Maties Hokkieklub was deel van die span wat die afgelope naweek die eerste Suid-Afrikaanse Premier Hokkieliga (PHL) gewen het.
James Drummond en Jacques Bleeker het vir die Maropeng Cavemen gespeel wat in die eindstryd die Addo Ellephants met 2-0 geklop het. Ander Maties wat in die PHL gespeel het, was Keenan Horne, Reece Arendse (Garden Route Gazelles), Luke Schooling (Drakensberg Dragons), Alex Stewart, Matt de Sousa, Charlie Bowren en Rob McKinley (SA o.21-span as die Golden Gate Gladiators); Heather McEwan, Natasha Rootenburg, Nicole la Fleur (Wineland Wings), Tarryn Glasby, Christine Seggie, Dani Cairns en Alegra Dijkstra (SA o.21-span as Namaqualand Daisies). Die Gazelles het derde geëindig ná ‘n oorwinning oor die Gladiators, terwyl die Wineland Wings ook brons gewen het.
“Om eerlik te wees ek het nie geweet wat om van die PHL te verwag nie. Dit was egter ‘n aanloklike idee. En veral na die USSA-sege wou ek baie graag nog hokkie speel,” het Drummond vertel.
“Ek is in die eerste ronde van die proses deur die Maropeng Cavemen gekies. Dit is grotendeels ‘n Johannesburgse kernspan en ek het besef dat ek iets heel anders gaan ervaar. Bonus was my Maties spanmaat Jacques Bleeker wat ook in die groep was. Dit was uit die staanspoor duidelik dat ons gefokus was om ‘n hegte span te wees en dat elke speler met dieselfde doel voor oë gewerk en gespeel het. In Rassie Pieterse het ons ‘n sterk leier gehad wat seker gemaak het ons almal bly gefokus en op dieselfde bladsy. Dit was ‘n baie interessante ervaring om deel te wees van ‘n span waar ons baie min ingemeen gehad het, behalwe ons liefde vir hokkie! Ek speel nog my hele lewe in die Westelike Provinsie en daarom was dit ‘n wonderlike ervaring om saam met die spelers te speel en nie teen hulle nie soos altyd. Ek was baie gelukkig om deel van die Cavemen wees. ”
Eerste jaar Matie Schooling het vir ‘n span gespeel wat grotendeels gesukkel het, maar dit het nie weggeneem van die groot leerervaring en geleentheid wat dit vir jongeling was nie. “Dit was regtig ‘n epiese ervaring om blootgestel te word aan die verskeidenheid van gehalte spelers van regoor die land saam met wie jy nooit regtig verwag het om te speel nie. Die senior nasionale spelers in my span het my veral baie gehelp en geleer oor verskeie aspekte van die spel. Die professionaliteit van die liga was ook regtig wonderlik, ten spyte van ‘n lang en suksesvolle seisoen vir Maties en al die hoë prestasie blootstelling wat ons kry, was dit ongelooflik om te sien hoe die boonste vlak van hokkie op ‘n nasionale platform lyk. Ek sien regtig uit na volgende jaar na die sukses van die eerste PHL.”
Drummond het ook verwys na die opwinding oor die betekenis van die PHL vir Suid-Afrikaanse hokkie. “Die PHL gee hokkiespelers iets ekstra om voor te speel. Ek speel al vir die afgelope 10 jaar hokkie en vir solank as wat ek kan onthou, is dit waarvoor spelers vra: ‘n professioale plaaslike liga. Die uiteindelike doel is om hokkie ‘n professionele sport te maak. Ek glo vanjaar was net die eerste stap en ek is seker dit sal net groter en beter word. Volgende jaar gaan epies wees na die goeie grondslag van die eerste PHL. Ek dink meer spelers sal betrokke wees nadat hulle vanjaar weens beserings of ander verpligtinge uitgemis het. Dit was baie lekker en spesiaal om deel van die 2016 PHL te wees.”
