Paul Roos Gymnasium, Boland Schools Hockey and Maties Hockey started a hockey development initiative in Kayamandi in May 2016. At least 20 Boys (Grade’s 4’s & 5’s) from Ikaya Primary, who have never played, nor been exposed to hockey before 2016 are now being exposed to weekly coaching sessions at their school by Maties Hockey Club members, Boland Schools players and many other hockey personalities from our area. The 2017 PRG Hockey Golf Day also contributed extensively to the players experience by donating hockey sticks, stick bags, shin pads, balls, gum guards, water bottles and their playing kit!
On Saturday 23 September 2017, the u11 Boys hockey team from Ikaya Primary embarked upon the Heritage Day Hockey Festival at Hartleyvale in Cape Town. This was their first even hockey tournament and with only four training sessions on astroturf behind their backs, they went into the festival with high hopes!
These were their results:
Won 5-0 vs Khayelithsa
Drew 0-0 vs Langa
Won 2-0 vs Amy Biehl
Won 1-0 vs Grootbos
The above mentioned results meant that these young boys from Kayamandi won their section! A big thank you must go Sima Yolisa and his Aunt Pinkie Yolisa (both of whom reside in Kayamandi) for their efforts in making this a reality. This is a project has a simple motto – “Let’s play Hockey” – and we believe that by engaging with these young pupils we change their lives through the sport of hockey.
