Langa’s national hockey star

GroundUp: How would you describe yourself?

Lungile Tsolekile: I am a proudly Langa man, who has Langa sport at his heart, family comes first and the rest follows.

GroundUp: How and when were you introduced to hockey?

Tsolekile: I started playing hockey in 1997 at Langa Sports Fields. I was bored one day and a friend just invited me to hockey training.

GroundUp: Hockey is not big in our communities.What did your family and your community say when you started playing?

Tsolekile: It’s not big in all our black communities, but it is in Langa. And there is no surprise when you play hockey in Langa.

GroundUp: Why did you decide to stick it out and not to play other sports like soccer?

Tsolekile: All cricketers in Langa Cricket Club play hockey as a winter sport so it was automatic. Thami Tsolekile, Albert Nkomo, Morgan Mfobo, all played hockey, so we all do.

GroundUp: What challenges do you face in the sport and out of it?

Tsolekile: Hockey is an amateur sport, so we all work and are part-time hockey players who sacrifice a lot to be in the top ten in the world. Outside of hockey, I can say that compared to what an average South African faces daily I’m pretty fortunate.

Hockey has provided me with so many opportunities in my life. Though we don’t get paid, it has has given me study opportunities and I have met valuable people through the sport.

GroundUp: Can people earn a living from hockey?

Tsolekile: No. It’s an amateur sport so you can’t make a living from it here. But if you go to Europe and play there, you sure can make a living from it.

GroundUp: What are you doing to give back to your community through the sport?

Tsolekile: I work with Langa Hockey and Cricket and hope to see more than one African representing the province and SA in the sport.

GroundUp: Would you encourage a youngster who wants to play professionally?

Tsolekile: Yes, as I have not played professionally in Europe. I want the next guy to be better than I ever was. In that way we, as a community, grow.

GroundUp: What do you think needs to be done to popularise the sport?

Tsolekile: We need funds, media coverage and, yes, proper administration and ideas to get the game to the masses and make it exciting to watch, so that even a person who is not familiar with the sport pays attention.

GroundUp: What are you hoping to achieve with the sport?

Tsolekile: I always wanted to make history with the team, get a better world ranking and win a medal at a major event. But that is very tough given that the other countries are also improving at a massive rate.

GroundUp:What is the future like for hockey in the province?

Tsolekile: It’s great. Khayelitsha and Mandalay are growing stronger, and other regions like Cape Winelands, West Coast, Overberg are starting their own leagues and forming clubs.

GroundUp: What message would you give to up-and-coming hockey players?

Tsolekile: Set goals, and work step by step to reach these goals. With these steps come hurdles, and you will trip and fall, but getting up and jumping over the next hurdle will build your character. Look, listen and learn.