Mandalay women’s hockey team holds their own despite challenges

Mandalay doesn’t have their own field, so they are allowed to use the Langa stadium for their home games. Despite not having a turf of their own in Mandalay the team doesn’t let that get in their way of playing the sport they love. The Mandalay Hockey Club was established in 2007.

The first half ended with neither teams having scored. Despite numerous efforts from both teams it looked as though the second half would end the same way. But late in the game, Gloria Baartman scored a cracking goal for Mandalay from a short corner. The lead was short-lived as Ou Ballies equalised shortly before the final whistle.

The draw was a true reflection of the game as both sides had equal scoring opportunities.

Anelisa Thomas, 29, of Mandalay said her team gave away chances. Thomas said, “Most of the girls are beginners, and they are not bad for beginners they are promising. And most of them are between the ages of 16 and 17 and are playing against experienced players.”

The youngest player of the Mandalay team is also the captain, Banele Plaatjies. She is just 15. She said, “It was a good game and I enjoyed it. Everyone gave their all. We are growing as a team.” The young player who was inspired by her older sister to play hockey intends to go far in the game. “I hope to play for South African Juniors and go back to playing for the province because I was playing for province last year,” she said.

Like most township sports teams Mandalay has many challenges. Thomas said, “Since we play our home games here we struggle a lot when it comes to transport money because we must come here every time we are not playing away. And another problem we are faced with is that we develop players only for big teams to poach them by promising them a lot of things.”