OUTREACH & DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME
The Nelson Mandela University Hockey Club has continued its outreach and development programme with the following township clubs:
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Invaders Men and Ladies (Zwide)
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Rockets Men & Ladies (New Brighton)
As Vista forms part of the new institution they automatically fall under the Nelson Mandela University. This amounts to approximately 80 players that participate in EPHF league matches. The Nelson Mandela University Vista team has a dedicated full time coach (David Maree). He has received coaching materials including coaching manuals, beacons & balls. David Maree also attended the SAHA Development Coaching Course in January 2005.
We provide coaches twice a week at the Nelson Mandela University Vista Campus on a Wednesday & Thursday at 15h30. These sessions last two hours each and are presented by premier league players at the Nelson Mandela University. These players/students form part of our hockey club and provide with coaching equipment (balls, beacons & coaching material) for these sessions. The Club pays for these students’ transportation costs to the training/coaching sessions.
The Invaders and Rockets Men’s Teams are coached by Jeremy Mambalu and Sheppard Vusani respectively. Both Jeremy and Sheppard have attended the SAHA Development Coaching Course over the past 3 years. This programme was sponsored by the Dutch Government. The Ladies team is coached by Mpumelelo Slwana (premier league Men’s players). Mpumelelo has represented EP for the past 3 seasons at senior & U/21 Level.
We also initiated coaching at the following schools through Jeremy Mambalu (SAHA Regional Coordinator) & Sheppard Vusani (Nelson Mandela University interim executive member):
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Isaac Booi Primary School
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Myezo Primary School
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Emfundweni Primary School
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Stiyeni Primary School
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Kwezi Lomso High School *
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Ndzondelelo High School *
All the primary Schools mentioned above are involved in the “Bantwana” or Mini Hockey project. Training takes place twice a week. Once a week at the schools and one day a week at the EP Astro in Gelvandale. Every Saturday morning these Bantwana players play matches at the Gelvan Grass fields, in their respective age groups. From the above mentioned schools players are selected to represent their area at the National Mini Hockey Festival, which will be held in Durban this year.
* The high schools are not involved in the Bantwana project as it is only open to players/participants younger than 12 years. However we use these schools to ensure that we have a steady flow of players coming into these teams. The schools act as a feeder to these teams. Last year we had 3 players representing the EP u/19 Team at the SA Games. These teams are geared at players that have not previously represented their provinces at provincial level.
In addition to the coaching we offer, the Club provides transportation to Vista, Rockets & Invaders teams to and from matches as fixtured by the EPHF, over the seven months of the hockey season.
The Rockets and Invaders Men’s teams have received playing kit (shorts, top & socks) as well as goalkeeping and coaching (balls, whistles and beacons) equipment from SAHA Development.
Our Club has provided hockey sticks (20) to the ladies teams, playing kit (skirt, top & socks) to the ladies teams as well as coaching equipment (20 beacons, 20 balls) per team. We have also provided each team with 3 match balls; these are only used in official league matches.
This is an on going process for the Club and we aim to improve the standard and quality of hockey played by these teams. We would like to see the level of participation increasing in the future and have a greater number of coaches and umpires coming from these teams.