Father and son duo Russel and Nic Gill share a love for hockey that not only speaks to the value of family but will also see them representing South Africa on the world stage at the electrifying World Masters Hockey World Cup.

Cape Town, South Africa (18 October 2024) – In an unfolding story of family, passion, and athletic prowess, Russel and Nic Gill, a father-son duo, are set to make waves representing their country together at the World Masters Hockey World Cup in the Mother City!

Masters Hockey SA describes the tournament as the leading event for masters hockey, honouring the commitment and talent of players who thrive in the sport well after their prime years.

From seasoned veterans to rising stars, teams will converge to vie for glory and honour on the international stage.

Russell, who plays for the RSA Men’s Over 65 team, along with Nic from the RSA Men’s Over 40s, both embody the true spirit of Masters hockey forged on the field, shares Masters Hockey SA.

Armed with their hockey sticks and eager to compete in their respective categories, both players remind us of how family can really help us tap into our passions.

More than just a sport, masters hockey offers a unique opportunity for athletes to continue playing the sport they love while maintaining their health and staying connected to a vibrant, supportive community.

“For players like Russell and Nic, it also means sharing unforgettable moments on the international stage, proving that age is just a number for heart and determination.”

Sources: Masters Hockey SA

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Thanks to a great opportunity, Sachin Padayachee embarked on a journey that took him all the way to the U21 national team.

Gqeberha, South Africa (16 October 2024) – An opportunity through Gqeberha charity organisation United Through Sport has seen Madibaz hockey star Sachin Padayachee embark on a journey that took him all the way to the U21 national team.

Most recently, the sport management student was a member of the self-same SA U21 team that shocked the major hockey provinces by capturing the interprovincial title in Johannesburg last month.

Following that tournament, Padayachee retained his place in the national squad for the Junior Africa Cup in Namibia from November 30 to December 8.

Success there will see the South Africans qualify for the Junior World Cup in 2025.

The 20-year-old’s path from junior school to this point is an interesting one.

“Trying out hockey was the newest thing for me at the time as no one in my family, I knew of, played,” Padayachee recalled.

“It was only a year later that I discovered that my mom had played back in the day for a Gelvandale team called the Panthers.”

Under the enthusiastic tutelage of coach Eric Jacobs, the young sportsman learnt to enjoy the sport during his primary school years.

“He was an amazing coach who helped me develop a feel for the game,” Padayachee said.

“My enjoyment also came from wanting a new challenge and trying to perfect my skills in a sport. I was a football player at the time.”

The centre-link and left-back added that it became even more fun when his friends, too, started taking up hockey.

The life-changing moment came in Grade 7 when he and a friend were chosen for a programme presented by UTS, a charity that provides opportunities for formerly disadvantaged persons.

“In the middle of that year, United Through Sport formed a hockey team to participate in a tournament at Alexander Road High,” Padayachee said.

Little did they know that the tournament was, in fact, a trial for scholarships to Alex.

Several weeks later, the Gqeberha school phoned his parents to offer him one from 2018.

“This was a major turning point in my life because, at the time, my parents could not afford to send me to a school of that level.

“Being at Alex provided me with a chance to improve my hockey within a good sporting system.”

He quickly slotted into the U14A team before graduating to the first team, which he captained in his matric year in Grade 9.

His journey came full circle when he was named the school’s best senior male player in his final year.

This trail of success translated into a bursary from Mandela University, where the now second-year student is a co-captain of the Madibaz premier league team alongside Zaakir Ensal.

Representing Eastern Province at the national U21 tournament in Johannesburg this April proved to be the doorway to the national team for Padayachee.

Five members of his team were invited to an SA U21 training camp afterwards, following which a squad of 18 were selected for the national team.

“It was held over three days in Pretoria in July and I was the only one from EP named in the squad. It was an extremely proud moment for me.”

Source: Supplied

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Zenani Kraai from Langa made his Olympic debut this year as part of the South African men’s hockey team; making him only the second person from Cape Town’s Langa Hockey Club to achieve this:

Cape Town, South Africa (16 August 2024) — When Zenani Kraai learned that he had made the Olympic team set to compete in Paris for men’s hockey, he knew he was not just representing himself. This was for Langa, and every young sportsperson who had ever been told they could not achieve something because of their circumstances.

“When I heard my name during the announcement, I couldn’t believe it. I was watching TV with my family, and our names were coming up, and I was anxious,” Zenani recalls. “Everyone jumped up and started screaming when my name popped up, it was a special moment, one that I’ll never forget.”

Arriving in Paris, Zenani had made history for Langa as only the second player from Cape Town’s Langa Hockey Club to make it to the Olympics. The first was Lungile Tsolekile who competed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Zenani was also one of the youngest players in the men’s hockey team.

It was the realisation of years of work for the young player who shares that getting into the team alone was something of an odyssey.

“It wasn’t an easy journey,” Zenani says. “I had to work extremely hard to get into the team, but all of it was worth it in the end.”

Getting to the Olympic Village was “unreal” for him as he got to see and chat with all the famous athletes that most of us typically won’t engage with beyond our TV screens.

But despite the sensation of being in a dreamland, the Games were still very much a battleground. The South African men’s team didn’t have an easy stretch, losing three of their five matches against the Netherlands, Germany, and Spain.

In their favour, they drew against Great Britain and ended the tournament on a big high when they beat France 5-2.

“We lost the small moments, for instance against Great Britain. We were meant to win that game things didn’t go our way and that disappointed us,” Zenani says.

Adding the up-side, Zenani shares: “With that said, there’s a lot to learn. We played against top teams and now we see where we stand against those teams, and we can prepare much better heading into the future.”

Regardless of how the Games turned out, Zenani was welcomed back as a hero, especially to the people of Langa.

Zenani hopes that his story of being born and raised in the township and attending Thembani Primary School and Langa High School will show the young people of Langa that where you come from does not define you.

“It’s a massive thing for the community and the Hockey Club,” Zenani says.

“Being born and attending school here should hopefully show the generation that it’s possible. I just hope they’re inspired, and never stop chasing their dreams.”

Sources: Sportsboom.com

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SA hockey stars have given our country another reason to be proud thanks to our Women’s Team who recently took the Tuanku Zara International Cup, and the Men who came second on the road to the Sultan Nazrin Shah Cup.

South Africa (14 November 2023) — After both the SA hockey men’s and women’s teams booked their spots for the 2024 Olympics, our indoor squads have also made us massively proud.

After a tense showdown during the Tuanku Zara International Cup that was recently underway in Malaysia, the South African Hockey Women were crowned the victors thanks to their defeat of Switzerland.

According to the South African Hockey Association, the final was a ‘titanic tussle’ between both sides that went from a tie to victory in South Africa’s favour, though not without putting up a good fight.

Following what could’ve been the plot to an Old Western—a shootout and ‘sudden death’ efforts had come about after the unsettling tie— South Africa’s wonder women took their moment to secure the win, and thanks to incredible plays by Kayla de Waal, Charlize Swanepoel and Teagan Fourie in the last push, the Tuanku Zara Internation Cup soon became South Africa’s.

In the men’s stretch, which saw the indoor team compete for the Sultan Nazrin Shah Cup, South Africa went up against Namibia and ultimately placed second after giving it their all en route to claiming the Cup.

However, a big milestone was celebrated for player Jethro Eustice who earned his 50th indoor cap (making him the second man to achieve this) and his 221st international match for our country.

Sources: SA Hockey

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Another two squads of South African athletes are celebrating after both the men’s and women’s hockey teams edge closer to their Olympic dreams thanks to qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Games!

Global (06 November 2023) — Joining several other local athletes and teams who are counting down the days until they get to give their all at the Paris 2024 Olympics, are two more South African squads. Both our men’s and women’s hockey teams have qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as of Sunday, 5th of November 2023 —a remarkable feat paved with grit and victories.

The women’s team were the first to qualify after winning gold against Nigeria during the African Hockey Road to Paris 2024 tournament. These ladies brought their A+ game to the astro after a tournament that had seen them win all their games en-route to the semi-final showdown. In the finals, they beat Nigeria 9-0!

As for the men’s team, the mission was more gruelling as they faced fierce rivalry from Egypt. South Africa and Egypt in the men’s hockey world have long gone toe to toe in high-ranking leagues, but when it came down to the last 15 minutes of the finals, South Africa found their sweet spot, resulting in an epic win.

“I can hardly remember the moment, but it’s definitely the greatest in a qualifier for me. I was in the right place at the right time and I couldn’t be happier. It was a sensational moment in front of a sensational crowd!” shared Ryan Julius who scored the golden ticketed goal.

Now, they will join the women’s team in preparation for the Olympics!

Sources: SA Hockey; International Hockey Federation

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Have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

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