Maties HP gebruik VX Sport GPS om Maties Sport-spanne te help : 2016-05-30
Om ‘n studente-atleet se fisieke werklading op universiteitsvlak te bestuur, is baie belangrik vir die Maties Sport Hoëprestasie-eenheid (HP-eenheid).
Die VX Sport GPS-atleetnasporingstelsel is een van die baie instrumente wat deur Maties Sport se HP-eenheid gebruik word om seker te maak dat spanne en atlete slimmer en meer doeltreffend oefen.
“Vir jare kon ons nooit meet hoe ons spanne of atlete fisiek op die speelveld presteer nie. Die beste wat ons kon doen, was ‘n ingeligte raaiskoot neem oor hoe moeilik of fisiek veeleisend ‘n wedstryd of ‘n oefensessie was, sonder die werklike getalle en statistieke om dit wat ons sien, te staaf of verkeerd te bewys. Die VX Sport GPS-stelsel laat ons toe om te meet hoe ons speel of oefen. Noudat ons toegang het tot die getalle en statistieke oor hoe ons speel, gee dit ons die geleentheid om krities te kyk na hoe doeltreffend ons ons spanne of studente-atlete afrig,” verduidelik Grant van Velden van die HP-eenheid.
“Ons het oor die jare heen data oor ‘n hele paar van ons spanne en studente-atlete ingesamel en dit het ons ‘n idee gegee van hoe fisiek veeleisend wedstryde vir ons studente-atlete oor die verskillende sportkodes heen, sowel as oor verskillende posisies binne dieselfde sportkode heen, is. Ons wil uiteindelik hê ons spanne moet oefen soos hulle op die veld speel, en ons span die data en statistieke wat gedurende die wedstryde ingesamel word in om dit te bereik. Ons probeer om die intensiteit van wedstryde na te boots in oefeningsessies sodat ons slimmer en meer doeltreffend oefen met die beperkte tyd wat ons met ons studente-atlete het.”
Van Velden verduidelik dat Maties se rugbyspan met die Varsitybeker-kompetisie verskeie kondisioneringswedstryde of kort spelstukkies (pockets) tydens oefensessies gespeel het. Hierdie spelstukkies was onder, bo óf teen dieselfde intensiteit as wat die spelers in ‘n wedstryd sou ervaar. “Met ons kennis van hoe intens ‘n Varsitybeker-wedstryd teen ‘n spesifieke opponent is, kan ons spelstukkies in die span se oefenweek posisioneer sodat ons hulle goed genoeg voorberei vir die intensiteit van die komende wedstryd of hulle laat herstel van die vorige week se wedstryd.”
Volgens Van Velden is om toegang tot hierdie tipe nasporingstegnologie vir atlete te hê, baie relevant in die universiteitsomgewing.
“Studente-atlete is eerstens studente en dan atlete. As gevolg hiervan is hul akademiese verpligtinge gedurende die dag hul prioriteit. Dit laat ons met miskien twee uur se oefentyd in die laatmiddag/vroeë aand, twee tot drie keer per week as ons gelukkig is. Met hierdie beperkte kontaktyd moet ons slim en doeltreffend afrig, anders sal ons nie die oefensessie kan maksimeer tot sy volle potensiaal nie. Deur die statistieke en getalle wat ons van die GPS-eenhede kry, te gebruik, weet ons presies wat ons in ‘n spesifieke oefensessie moet doen en kan ons die oefensessie ooreenkomstig ontwerp om daardie sessie se doelwitte te bereik.”
Die HP-eenheid het tans 30 VX Sport GPS-eenhede – 15 van hulle is “regstreekse” eenhede.
“Regstreeks beteken dat ons gedurende ‘n wedstryd dadelik op die skootrekenaar langs die veld kan sien wat met ‘n speler op die speelveld gebeur. Onmiddellike veranderinge kan dan gemaak word as ‘n speler tekens van moegheid toon of nie sekere fisieke mikpunte haal wat hy of sy gewoonlik in ‘n wedstryd sou behaal nie. In ‘n ideale wêreld sou oefensessies ook met regstreekse eenhede gemonitor word. Dit sou dan geleentheid gee vir kommunikasie tussen die afrigter, die sporttegnoloog en die kondisioneringafrigter om net daar en dan veranderinge aan te bring as die fisieke mikpunte nie bereik word nie.”
Van Velden voeg by: “Wanneer ‘n speler die GPS-eenheid aan het, is daar geen wegkruipplek op die veld nie. Atlete wat probeer kortpaaie neem, sal uitgevang word. Big Brother hou jou dop en in hierdie geval is Big Brother in die ruimte in die vorm van ‘n satelliet wat nie net sien as ‘n speler te min doen nie, maar ook as hy of sy te veel doen.”
Van Velden waarsku egter dat om net die data en statistieke van die GPS te gebruik om te interpreteer hoe ‘n atleet op die veld presteer, jou net die helfte van die storie vertel. GPS-data moet saam met video-data gebruik word. Die GPS-data kan wys dat ‘n speler 9 km op die hokkieveld gehardloop het – wat baie is – maar dan sal die video wys dat hy dié afstand behaal het sonder dat dit die spel noemenswaardig beïnvloed het – hy of sy het soos ‘n afkophoender rondgehardloop. ‘n Ander speler mag dalk net 7 km aflê, maar sy of haar invloed is veel meer deurslaggewend. Deur dus verder te hardloop in ‘n wedstryd beteken nie noodwendig jy was die beter speler of het ‘n groter invloed op die wedstryd gehad nie. Die statistieke moet saam met die video-data geïnterpreteer word en dít is waarom video-ontleding self so belangrik is.”
Die Steinhoff Maties Hokkie-manspan het GPS-eenhede by die onlangse Varsity Hokkie-toernooi gebruik vir wedstryde wat in Stellenbosch gespeel is. Volgens Van Velden sal hierdie statistieke, saam met vorige jare se statistieke, handig te pas kom wanneer hulle vir die USSA-toernooi in Julie voorberei.
“Dit is ‘n baie soortgelyke toernooi met wedstryde elke dag van die week. Ons het ook ‘n aantal eerstejaars in ons span oor wie ons nog nie data kon insamel nie. Dit is belangrik dat ons verstaan wat die fisieke eise is wat aan nuwelinge gestel word en hoe hul liggaam reageer op en herstel ná vier dae se hokkie teen hoë intensiteit. Ons weet wat die fisieke eise aan elke speler is nog voor die USSA-toernooi begin het. Dit gee ons kans om die spelers beter voor te berei en die beste moontlike kans te gee om na die beste van hul vermoëns te speel.”
Managing a student-athlete’s physical workload at university level is very important for the Maties Sport High Performance (HP) Unit. The VX Sport GPS athlete tracking system is one of the many tools that is used at the Maties Sport HP Unit to make sure teams and athletes train smarter and more efficiently.
“For years we could never measure how our teams or athletes physically performed on the field of play. At best we could take an educated guess as to how tough or physically demanding a match or a training session was, without having actual numbers and stats to back up or disprove what we saw. The VX Sport GPS system now allows us to measure how we play or train. Now that we have access to the numbers and stats on how we play, it has allowed us to critically look at how efficiently and how effectively we train our teams or student-athletes,” said Grant van Velden from the HP unit.
“We have collected data from a number of our teams and student-athletes over the years and this has given us an idea of how physical demanding matches are on student-athletes across different sport codes, as well as across different positions within the same sports code. We ultimately want our teams to train more often like they play out on the field, so we use the data and stats collected from matches to help our teams achieve this. We try to match the intensity of games during training so that we train smarter and more efficiently with the limited time that we have with our student-athletes.”
Van Velden explained that during the Varsity Cup competition, the Maties Rugby team played different conditioning games or “pockets” during training sessions. These “pockets” were either below, above, or at the same intensity that the players would experience during a match. “By knowing how intense a Varsity Cup game is against a particular opponent, we can position ‘pockets’ accordingly in the team’s training week so that we adequately prepare them for the intensity of the upcoming game or to recover from the previous week’s game.”
According to Van Velden, having access to this type of athlete tracking technology is very relevant in the university environment.
“Student-athletes are first and foremost students and athletes second. Due to this, their academic commitments are a priority during the day. This leaves us with maybe two hours training time in the late afternoon/early evening, two to three times per week if we are lucky. With this limited contact time, we have to train smart and efficiently otherwise we will not be able to maximise the training session to its full potential. By using the stats and numbers we get from the GPS units, we know exactly what we should do in a particular training session and can therefore design our training session accordingly in order to achieve that sessions objectives.”
The HP Unit currently has 30 VX Sport GPS units – 15 of these are “live” units.
“Live means that during a match we can instantly see on the laptop on the side of the field what is happening with a player on the field of play. Immediate changes can then be made if a player is showing signs of fatigue or is not reaching certain physical benchmarks that he or she would normally reach during a game. In an ideal world, training sessions will also be monitored with live units. This will then allow for communication between the coach, the sport technologist, and the conditioning coach to make changes to a training session right then and there if certain physical benchmarks are not being achieved.”
Van Velden added: “When a player has the GPS unit on, there is no place to hide on the field. Athletes who try to take shortcuts during training sessions will be caught out. Big Brother is watching you and in this case Big Brother is in space in the form of a satellite! We not only see if a player is doing too little, but also if he or she is doing too much.”
Van Velden warns though that using only the data and stats from GPS to interpret how an athlete performed on the field will only give you half the story. “GPS data must be interpreted alongside video data. The GPS data can show that a player ran 9 km on the astro, which is a lot, but then the video will show that he achieved that distance without influencing play very much… he or she ran around like a headless chicken. Whereas another player may only cover 7 km on the astro, but his or her influence on the game was far more pronounced. So running further during a match doesn’t necessarily mean you were the better player or more influential in the game. The stats need to be interpreted alongside video data and that is why video analysis is so very important as well.”
The Steinhoff Maties Hockey men’s team at the recent Varsity Hockey tournament used the GPS units for the matches played in Stellenbosch. According to Van Velden these stats, along with the previous year’s stats, will come in handy when preparing for the USSA tournament in July.
“It is a very similar tournament with games every day for a week. We also have a number of 1st years in our team who we haven’t been able to collect data on before. It is important that we understand the physical demands placed on the newcomers to the team and how their bodies react to and recover from four days of high intensity hockey. We now know what the physical demands will be on each player even before the USSA tournament has started. This will allow us to physically prepare the players better and give them the best possible chance to play to the best of their abilities.”
Maties High Performance uses VX Sport GPS to help HP teams : 2016-05-27
Managing a student-athlete’s physical workload at university level is very important for the Maties Sport High Performance (HP) Unit. The VX Sport GPS athlete tracking system is one of the many tools that is used at the Maties Sport HP Unit to make sure teams and athletes train smarter and more efficiently.
“For years we could never measure how our teams or athletes physically performed on the field of play. At best we could take an educated guess as to how tough or physically demanding a match or a training session was, without having actual numbers and stats to back up or disprove what we saw. The VX Sport GPS system now allows us to measure how we play or train. Now that we have access to the numbers and stats on how we play, it has allowed us to critically look at how efficiently and how effectively we train our teams or student-athletes,” said Grant van Velden from the HP unit.
“We have collected data from a number of our teams and student-athletes over the years and this has given us an idea of how physical demanding matches are on student-athletes across different sport codes, as well as across different positions within the same sports code. We ultimately want our teams to train more often like they play out on the field, so we use the data and stats collected from matches to help our teams achieve this. We try to match the intensity of games during training so that we train smarter and more efficiently with the limited time that we have with our student-athletes.”
Van Velden explained that during the Varsity Cup competition, the team played different conditioning games or “pockets” during training sessions. These “pockets” were either below, above, or at the same intensity that the players would experience during a match. “By knowing how intense a Varsity Cup game is against a particular opponent, we can position ‘pockets’ accordingly in the teams training week so that we adequately prepare them for the intensity of the upcoming game or to recover from the previous week’s game.”
According to Van Velden, having access to this type of athlete tracking technology is very relevant in the university environment. “Student-athletes are first and foremost students and athletes second. Due to this, their academic commitments are a priority during the day. This leaves us with maybe two hours training time in the late afternoon/early evening, two to three times per week if we are lucky. With this limited contact time, we have to train smart and efficiently otherwise we will not be able to maximise the training session to its full potential. By using the stats and numbers we get from the GPS units, we know exactly what we should do in a particular training session and can therefore design our training session accordingly in order to achieve that sessions objectives.”
The HP Unit currently has 30 VX Sport GPS units, 15 of these are “live” units. “Live means that during a match we can instantly see on the laptop on the side of the field what is happening with a player on the field of play. Immediate changes can then be made if a player is showing signs of fatigue or is not reaching certain physical benchmarks that he or she would normally reach during a game. In an ideal world, training sessions will also be monitored with live units. This will then allow for communication between the coach, the sport technologist, and the conditioning coach to make changes to a training session right then and there if certain physical benchmarks are not being achieved.”
Van Velden added: “When a player has the GPS unit on, there is no place to hide on the field. Athletes who try to take shortcuts during training sessions will be caught out. Big Brother is watching you and in this case Big Brother is in space in the form of a satellite! We not only see if a player is doing too little, but also if he or she is doing too much.”
Van Velden warns though that using only the data and stats from GPS to interpret how an athlete performed on the field will only give you half the story. “GPS data must be interpreted alongside video data. The GPS data can show that a player ran for 9km on the astro, which is a lot, but then the video will show that he achieved that distance without influencing play very much… he or she ran around like a headless chicken. Whereas another player may only cover 7km on the astro, but his or her influence on the game was far more pronounced. So running further during a match doesn’t necessarily mean you were the better player or more influential in the game. The stats need to be interpreted alongside video data and that is why video analysis is so very important as well.”
The Steinhoff Maties men’s team at the recent Varsity Hockey tournament used the GPS units for the matches played in Stellenbosch. According to Van Velden these stats, along with previous year’s stats, will come in handy when preparing for the USSA tournament in July. “It is a very similar tournament with games every day for a week. We also have a number of 1st years in our team who we haven’t been able to collect data on before. It is important that we understand the physical demands placed on the newcomers to the team and how their bodies react to and recover from four days of high intensity hockey. We now know what the physical demands will be on each player even before the USSA tournament has started. This will allow us to physically prepare the players better and give them the best possible chance to play to the best of their abilities.”
Despite the loss, Steinhoff Maties stay positive : 2016-05-19
Varsity Sports Hockey, Coetzenburg Sports Grounds, Stellenbosch, Day 1. 13 May 2016. Photo: Thys Lombard Maties celebrate a goal
Even though the disappointment of losing in the semi-final of the Varsity Sports Hockey tournament was huge, coach and captain of the Steinhoff Maties Hockey men’s team did find enough to be positive about looking forward to the rest of the season.
Coach Ashlin Freddy and captain Dylan Swanepoel both mentioned tighter team cohesion.
Maties men lost 0-1 to Tukkies in the semi-final of Varsity Hockey on Monday in Stellenbosch. This was the first time since August 2012 that Maties lost on their home ground. The result was even more disappointing because Maties have been dominating all their opponents since their loss to UJ in the first match of the Varsity Hockey tournament. They scored 43 goals in eight matches.
Keenan Horne, Shannon Boucher and James Drummond all scored six goals. Eight other players also got on the scoreboard. Daniel Bell scoring five goals and Dylan Swanepoel and Reece Arendse hit the back of the goal box four times. Horne was named Super Striker three times and Man of the Man twice.
“Monday was extremely disappointing; I don’t think we gave a good account of ourselves. We pushed hard physically and played with really good intensity in the league phase. In the semi-final we never got close to those levels that were so successful for us. We spoke about discipline before the game and this really let us down. We played large amounts of the game without our full compliment on the field and yet we still dominated the game,” said Freddy.
Swanepoel added: “I am pleased with the way the tournament went. We made lots of progress as a team even though we couldn’t put it in the right performance when it counted most. However, like I said we have made huge strides as a team, and now we must keep improving as we turn our focus back to the league and USSA.”
Freddy also preferred to look at the positives from the tournament. “I feel as a group we got a lot closer. We also started to discover how far we can push the boundaries physically which meant we could play with a really high intensity which was very successful for us. We had the best defensive record in the league phase only conceding 7 goals in seven games (the next best was 16!) and we also topped the scoring chart with 43 goals (next best was 33). The first years definitely grew from game one to game eight, with the steep learning curve they coped really well. It will give us a good platform as we shift our focus to the league and then prep for USSA.”
Maties play WPCC at the Maties Astro on Sunday. “It is going to be a real mental test for us. We have some really young players who have tasted disappointment for the first time, and the more experienced guys have been in this situation before. We are playing against a very experienced side that have a 100% record thus far. Playing during exams is never easy, as we put a big emphasis on academics, which adds difficulty to our task on Sunday.”
Action starts at 16:30.
Varsity Sports Hockey, Coetzenburg Sports Grounds, Stellenbosch, Day 2. 14 May 2016. Photo: Thys Lombard Maties vs Wits Luke Schooling (Maties – 19)
AFRIKAANS
Ten spyte van nederlaag, bly Steinhoff Maties positief
Selfs al is die teleurstelling van die nederlaag in die halfeindronde van die Varsity Sport-hokkietoernooi groot, glo afrigter en kaptein van die Steinhoff Maties-hokkiemanspan dat daar genoeg is om oor positief te wees met die oog op die res van die seisoen.
Afrigter Ashlin Freddy en kaptein Dylan Swanepoel het beide ‘n sterker spaneenheid genoem.
Maties het 0-1 teen Tukkies verloor. Dit was die eerste keer sedert Augustus 2012 dat Maties op hul tuisveld verloor het. Die nederlaag was nog meer teleurstellend omdat Maties hul teenstanders oorheers het sedert hul nederlaag teen UJ in die eerste wedstryd van die toernooi. Hulle het 43 doelwitte in agt wedstryde aangeteken.
Keenan Horne, Shannon Boucher en James Drummond het al drie 6 doele aangeteken. Agt ander spelers het ook doele behaal. Daniel Bell vyf keer die doelhok laat raas, terwyl Dylan Swanepoel en Reece Arendse die agterkant van die doelhok vier keer getref het.
“Maandag was uiters teleurstellend. Ek dink nie ons het goeie rekenskap van onsself gegee nie. Ons was fisiek en het met baie goeie intensiteit in die liga-fase gespeel. In die halfeindstryd het ons egter nie eens naby aan daardie vlakke gekom nie. Dissipline was ook ‘n probleem vir ons. Ons moes groot dele van die wedstryde sonder almal op die astro speel,” het Freddy vertel.
Swanepoel het bygevoeg: “Ek is tevrede met die manier waarop die toernooi verloop het. Ons het baie vordering as ‘n span gemaak, selfs al het ons nie die klas vertoning gelewer wat ons kon in die belangrikste wedstryd nie. Ons moet nou egter fokus op die liga en USSA en aanhou werk aan dit wat ons reg gedoen het in die toernooi.”
Freddy verkies ook om na die positiewe aspekte van die toernooi te kyk. “Ek voel as ‘n groep het ‘n goeie eenheid gevorm. Ons het ook begin om te ontdek hoe ver ons die grense van ons fisieke vermoëns skuif wat beteken ons kan met ‘n baie hoë intensiteit speel wat baie suksesvol vir ons is. Ons het die beste verdedigende rekord in die ligafase gehad deur net 7 doele in sewe wedstryde (die naasbeste was 16!) af te staan. Ons het ook die meeste doele (43) aangeteken. Die volgende span was op 33. Die eerste jaars het ook baie geleer en gegroei. Dit was ‘n steil leerkurwe, maar dit sal baie beteken vir die res van die liga en die USSA-toernooi.”
Maties speel Sondag tuis teen WPCC. “Dit gaan ‘n groot geestelike toets vir ons wees. Ons het ‘n paar baie jong spelers wat vir die eerste keer teleurstelling ervaar het. Ons speel teen ‘n baie ervare span wat ‘n 100% rekord tot dusver het. Om tydens die eksamens te speel, is nooit maklik nie, want ons plaas groot klem op akademie wat Sondag nog ‘n groter uitdaging maak.”
Aksie begin om 16:30.
Varsity Sports Hockey, Coetzenburg Sports Grounds, Stellenbosch, Day 1. 13 May 2016. Photo: Thys Lombard Keenan Horne (Maties – 10)
Steinhoff Maties set for big Varsity Hockey weekend : 2016-05-11
2016 FNB Varsity MEN’S Hockey, Round 3, Sunday 08 May 2016, UJ Hockey Field, Johannesburg Gauteng.
MATIES v NMMU
Dylan Swanepoel (c) of MATIES
Photo by: CATHERINE KOTZE/ SASPA
With three wins from four matches and 24 goals scored the Steinhoff Maties Hockey men are in the third spot of the the Varsity Sports Hockey tournament’s log.
The tournament started last Friday with the first round matches all played at the University of Johannesburg. Maties got off to a bad start with a 3-5 loss to the defending champions, UJ. On Saturday they started to play like a team that can challenge for the title with a 4-0 win over Kovsies. But on Sunday and Monday they walloped their opponents with 17 goals and conceding only one in victories over the Madibaz (8-0) and Pukke (9-1). These send out clear warnings that Maties are finally warmed up and ready go one better than in 2014 when they lost in the final after a penalty shootout.
Top scorers thus for Maties are Shannon Boucher (4), Keenan Horne (4), James Drummond (3), Charlie Bowren (3) and Dylan Swanepoel (3).
2016 FNB Varsity MEN’S Hockey, Round 3, Sunday 08 May 2016, UJ Hockey Field, Johannesburg Gauteng.
MATIES v NMMU
Dylan Swanepoel (c) of MATIES
Photo by: CATHERINE KOTZE/ SASPA
Maties are in third place with 9 points. Wits’ team is fourth also with 9 points, but Maties have a healthy goal difference. UJ and Tukkies are both still undefeated and respectively first and second on the log.
This coming weekend the action is in Stellenbosch at the Coetzenburg astro with games on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Entrance is R20 and if you book online R10. Maties will play Tukkies, Ikeys and Wits. The semi-final round is on Monday. The final is on 23 May. The match against Ikeys will also be an Intervarsity clash.
All Maties’ matches are at 18:45 and action starts daily at 13:30.
2016 FNB Varsity MEN’S Hockey, Round 3, Sunday 08 May 2016, UJ Hockey Field, Johannesburg Gauteng.
MATIES v NMMU
James Drummond of MATIES
Photo by: CATHERINE KOTZE/ SASPA
Hectic month awaits Steinhoff Maties Hockey Men : 2016-04-20
From 22 April to 23 May the Steinhoff Maties Hockey Men will play in a string of matches in three different competitions.
This combines to a possible 19 matches in some four weeks. The crazy month starts this Friday with a Western Province Grand Challenge match against Pinelands at the Maties Astro. Next week is the Interprovincial Tournament in Johannesburg and bar a few players the whole team will be in action either for Western Province or WP Peninsula. The Varsity Hockey series starts on 6 May with four matches in four days at the University of Johannesburg. The following weekend 13-16 May takes place in Stellenbosch and once again it will be four matches in four days. The Varsity Hockey final is on 23 May. Maties not only want to play in this match, they also want to win it.
In between Maties will also have to play more WPGC matches that include an Intervarsity match against Ikeys.
It is going to be a hectic month for players and new coach Ashlin Freddy. It is no secret that Maties really want the Varsity Hockey title after loosing to UJ 2014 after extra time in a shootout. The Maties women’s team won the first Varsity Hockey title in 2013. Last year they played in the semi-final. UJ is currently both the men and women’s champion.
This is something that Dylan Swanepoel and his team wants to change. For most of the Maties players it will be their last chance at playing in this tournament.
- On Friday the action starts at 19:00 at the Maties Astro with the women playing first followed by the men at 20:30.
- Last weekend’s WPGC results: MEN – Fish Hoek 0, Maties 2; Maties 4, Vics 2. WOMEN – Maties 9, Vics 0; Conberg 1, Maties 5.
Horne on records, awards and the missing gold medal : 2015-11-02
There is no doubt that 2015 has been Keenan Horne’s best season at the Steinhoff Maties Hockey Club thus far and his Player of the Year award is just reward for being a star player.
“When you start a season you don’t play for individual accolades so it’s always a surprise when you do receive it. When I received the award there were many amazing players’ names on the cup so it’s great to be added to that list. Hockey is a team sport though and you always have to give credit to your teammates as they are pushing you in training as well as helping you to play to your full potential in matches.”
Close to a perfect season not winning the gold medal at USSA is the one thing Horne regrets. “I would gladly trade this award for a USSA gold medal,” he added.
Horne started the year in January already when he played for the South African national men’s team. “I must say that this has probably been the most outstanding season of my five years playing for the Maroons. It was truly incredible to make my debut for the national team as that was one of my goals for the year, so to do it early on was really special and it really set the tone for what I wanted to accomplish individually this year.
“To win the Western Province Grand Challenge title three times in a row is really special as many players never have that opportunity to make history like this, and being the vice-captain and having the opportunity to captain such a group of quality hockey players as well as quality people is something that I will always remember. It is probably the one thing I didn’t foresee this year. To be trusted by the coach also gives you more confidence and a lot more drive to be consistent and worthy of your place. One knows that you never going to have a perfect season, but the biggest disappointment was probably missing out on the USSA gold medal. It’s just very perplexing to me to think that with the group that we had we couldn’t overcome this hurdle. We are all winners, we have won many tournaments be it for Maties or provincially but USSA is something which we focused on this year and it’s just very disappointing that we couldn’t add that to the cabinet.”
With the year drawing to a close Horne has already set his goals for next season. “A record breaking fourth WP Grand Challenge title, winning a third IPT title and getting that illusive gold medal at USSA.”
AFRIKAANS
Horne oor rekords, toekennings en die ontbrekende goue medalje
Daar is geen twyfel dat 2015 die beste seisoen vir Keenan Horne by die Steinhoff Maties Hokkieklub tot dusver was nie en sy Speler van die Jaar-toekenning is ‘n gepaste beloning vir die ster-speler.
“Wanneer jy ‘n seisoen begin speel jy nie vir individuele toekennings nie so dit is altyd ‘n verrassing wanneer dit wel gebeur. Toe ek die toekenning ontvang was die name van baie besonderse spelers se name op die beker en dit is wonderlik dat my naam ook nou daarby is. Hokkie is egter ‘n spansport en jy moet altyd krediet gee aan jou spanmaats, want dit is hulle wat jou druk in oefensessies en jou help om tot jou volle potensiaal in wedstryde te speel.”
Naby aan ‘n perfekte seisoen was dit byna as dit nie vir daardie verspeelde kans om ‘n goue medalje by USSA was nie. “Ek sou met graag die toekenning vir ‘n USSA goue medalje verruil,” het hy bygevoeg.
Horne het die jaar reeds in Januarie begin toe hy vir die Suid-Afrikaanse nasionale manspan gespeel het. “Ek moet sê dat die waarskynlik die mees uitstaande seisoen van my vyf jaar by die Maroens was. Dit was werklik ongelooflik om my debuut vir die nasionale span te maak.
“Om die Westelike Provinsie Groot Uitdaag-titel drie keer agtereenvolgens te wen, was baie spesiaal want nie baie spelers kry so geleentheid nie. Ook om onder-kaptein te wees en selfs die kans te kry om die span te lei, was die een ding wat ek nie hierdie jaar verwag het nie. Die kanse om ooit ‘n perfekte seisoen te beleef is skraal, maar die grootste teleurstelling is waarskynlik die ontbrekende USSA goue medalje. Ek kan nie anders as om te wonder hoekom ons – met al die kwaliteit spelers wat ons het – nie die hekkie kon oorkom nie. Ons is almal wenners en het al verskeie toernooie gewen, maar USSA was ‘n fokus vir ons en dit is baie teleurstellend dat ons nie goud kon wen nie.”
Met die jaar wat tot ‘n einde kom Horne het reeds sy doelwitte vir die volgende seisoen.
” ‘n Rekord vierde WP Groot Uitdaag-titel, ‘n derde IPT-titel en daardie ontwykende goue medalje by USSA.”
It’s all about the team, says captain Swanepoel : 2015-11-02
Helping Steinhoff Maties Men win three Western Province Grand Challenge hockey titles was what he wanted for the season; so winning the Most Valuable Player award is just a bonus for Dylan Swanepoel.
At the recent Maties Hockey Awards evening Swanepoel was named MVP for 2015.
The past season Swanepoel took over the captaincy for the first team from Rob Edwards. This year Maties won the WPGC title for the third consecutive time. It is a record at the club for the men’s team. Maties also won the bronze medal at USSA.
According to Swanepoel he had great time leading and being part of the team in 2015. “I enjoyed the culture of our team, and being a part of the team that made history at the club was everything I wanted from the season,” said Swanepoel.
“The award is just a bonus to me. The main award I wanted for the season was to help the team get to three league titles in a row, which we did. So everything else after that has been a bonus.”
Next year it will once again be the turn of the men’s hockey teams to play in the Varsity Hockey series. In 2014 Maties played in the final against UJ and lost in the shootout after extra time. “Goals for next season would be to improve our Varsity Hockey position from last year, do better at USSA, and try make it four out of four in the WPGC. We have a mass exodus of players leaving this year; so next year will be about rebuilding the team and putting in a good foundation for the next few years. I hope to play a major role in helping the team develop next year.”
AFRIKAANS
Dit gaan alles oor die span, sê kaptein Swanepoel
Om Steinhoff Maties Manspan te help om drie Westelike Provinsie Groot Uitdaagliga-titels te wen, was sy doelwit vir die seisoen; om die toekenning as mees waardevolle speler te ontvang, is net ‘n bonus vir Dylan Swanepoel.
Die afgelope seisoen het Swanepoel die kapteinskap vir die eerste span by Rob Edwards oorgeneem. Vanjaar het Maties het die WP Grootuitdaagliga-titel vir die derde agtereenvolgende keer gewen. Dit is ‘n rekord by die klub vir die manspan. Maties het ook die bronsmedalje by USSA gewen.
Volgens Swanepoel het hy ‘n wonderlik tyd as kaptein en speler in die span gehad.. “Ek geniet die kultuur van ons span. Om deel van die span te wees wat vir geskiedenis gesorg het, was my doelwit vir die seisoen,” het Swanepoel gesê.
“Die toekenning is net ‘n bonus vir my. Die belangrikste toekenning wat ek wou gehad het, was die driekuns aan liga-titels. En ons het dit vermag. Alles daarna is ‘n bonus.”
Volgende jaar sal dit weer die beurt van die mans se hokkiespanne wees om in die Varsity Hokkie-reeks te speel. In 2014 het Maties in die eindstryd teen UJ gespeel en in die uitspeelstryd verloor. “Doelwitte vir die volgende seisoen sal wees om ons Varsity Hokkie posisie van 2014 te verbeter, beter te doen by USSA, en probeer dit vier uit vier in die WPGU-liga te maak Ons het ‘n groot uittog van spelers vanjaar; so volgende jaar sal ons moet herbou en ‘n goeie grondslag vir die volgende paar jaar te lê. Ek hoop om ‘n groot rol speel om die span te ontwikkel volgende jaar.”
Being at Maties best hockey experience of Agar’s life : 2015-10-13
Being able to have played seven seasons at the Steinhoff Maties Hockey Club was the best hockey experience of Dave Agar’s life. “I got to play some great quality hockey and have even better quality teammates.”
Agar is one of a few players that have played their last season at Maties this year. Others include Pierre de Voux, Illse Davids, Brad Logan, Erin Hunter and Bronwyn Kretzmann.
Agar has played a key role in the Maties men team’s three consecutive Western Province Grand Challenge titles and the bronze medal at USSA this year.
“At Maties I have learnt that if you put in the long hours of hard work and dedication, the results will speak for themselves. And a good team vibe is a key factor to success,” said the club’s 2012 top goal scorer.
“For those thinking about coming to Maties; we have world-class facilities and everything you need to excel and realise your potential. The club is also very socially orientated and creates many opportunities to meet people from diverse backgrounds.”
Agar played for Vics and Maties first team at his time at the club. Choosing some of his best memories were no easy task. “Beating Pinelands at Maties in the final game of the season to win the league in 2013 will be a memory I value forever. Also our victory against WPCC this year to claim our third consecutive league title for the first time in Maties history will not be soon forgotten.”
Maties Men have been undefeated in the Western Province Grand Challenge for the past few seasons.
Agar’s final message to those staying behind: “Cherish every moment and memory because before you know it, it will all be over. And please keep up the winning streak!”
AFRIKAANS
Om by Maties te speel beste hokkie-ervaring van Agar se lewe
Sewe seisoene by die Steinhoff Maties Hokkieklub was die beste hokkie-ervaring van sy lewe, vertel Dave Agar. “Ek het goeie gehalte hokkie gespeel en selfs beter gehalte spanmaats gehad.”
Agar is een van ‘n paar spelers wat hul laaste seisoen vanjaar by Maties gespeel het. Ander sluit in Pierre de Voux, Illse Davids, Brad Logan, Erin Hunter en Bronwyn Kretzmann.
Agar het ‘n belangrike rol in die drie agtereenvolgende Westelike Provinsie Groot Uitdaagliga-titels en vanjaar se bronsmedalje by USSA gespeel.
“By Maties het ek geleer dat as jy bereid is om hard te werk en dit met toewyding doen, die resultate vanself sal kom. En ‘n goeie spangees is ‘n belangrike faktor vir sukses,” het die klub se voorste doelskieter in 2012 gesê.
“Vir diegene wat daaraan dink om na Maties te kom; ons het die wêreld-gehalte geriewe en alles wat jy nodig het om te presteer en jou potensiaal te bereik. Die klub is ook baie sosiaal-georiënteerd en skep baie geleenthede om mense uit verskillende agtergronde te ontmoet.”
Agar het in sy tyd by die klub vir Vics en Maties gespeel. Die taak om ‘n paar van sy beste herinneringe uit te sonder, was nie maklik nie. “Die sege oor Pinelands by Maties om in die finale wedstryd van die seisoen die liga te wen in 2013 is ‘n herinnering wat ek vir altyd sal koester. Ook ons oorwinning oor WPCC vanjaar om ons derde agtereenvolgende liga-titel te wen vir die eerste keer in die klub se geskiedenis, sal ek nie gou vergeet nie.”
Maties Mans is die afgelope drie seisoene onoorwonne in die Westelike Provinsie Groot Uitdaagliga.
Agar se laaste boodskap aan diegene wat agterbly: “Koester elke oomblik, want voor jy dit besef, sal dit alles verby wees. En hou asseblief die segetog aan die gang!”
‘Maties Hockey a place for anyone and everyone’ : 2015-10-13
After five seasons at the Steinhoff Maties Hockey Club former first team captain Rob Edwards will remember his time as a Matie hockey player as being part of an ambitious, hard-working group who loved playing together.
“The friendships made and the special moments on the turf will be what stays with me longest,” said Edwards, who was Maties Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014.
Edwards was part of the teams that won a hat-trick of Western Province Grand Challenge titles (2013-2015). He also won a silver USSA medal in 2013 and bronze this year.
“The Maties culture helped me learn the value of playing competitively, but ultimately for the love of the game; as well as what a special thing it is to be a part of a team. Maties can suit everyone’s needs. There is a place in the club for a social player, one with National ambitions and everything in between.”
Edwards fondly remembers the final Grand Challenge match in 2013 when the team was victorious against Pinelands and Maties won the league. “Also beating Tuks in the Varsity Cup semi-final last year is a memory I will cherish for a long time.”
Edwards added with a smile: “And watching Matt de Salsa (De Sousa) and Keenan Horne try to hit reverse sticks at training!”
And Edwards’ final message to those who are staying behind? “Cherish every moment, because it will be over sooner than you think.”
AFRIKAANS
‘Maties Hokkie, plek vir almal’
Na vyf seisoene by die Steinhoff Maties Hokkieklub sal die voormalige eerstespan-kaptein Rob Edwards sy tyd as ‘n Matie-hokkiespeler onthou as deel wees van ‘n ambisieuse, hardwerkende groep wat daarvan gehou het om saam te speel.
“Ek sal die vriendskappe gesmee en die spesiale oomblikke op die asto die langste onthou,” het Edwards, Maties se Speler van die Jaar in 2013 en 2014, vertel.
Edwards was deel van die spanne wat ‘n driekuns van die Westelike Provinsie Groot Uitdaagliga-titels (2013-2015) gewen het. Hy het ook ‘n USSA silwermedalje in 2013 en brons hierdie jaar gewen.
“Die Maties kultuur het my die waarde van die mededingende spel geleer, maar uiteindelik ook die liefde van die spel; sowel as wat ‘n spesiale ding dit is om ‘n deel van ‘n span te wees. Maties kan almal se behoeftes te pas. Daar is ‘n plek in die klub vir ‘n sosiale speler, een met Nasionale ambisies en alles tussenin. ”
Edwards onthou graag die finale Grand Challenge-wedstryd in 2013 toe die span seëvierende teen Pinelands was en Maties die liga gewen het. “Ook om Tuks in die halfeindronde van die Varsity Hokkie-reeks te klop sal ek nog lank onthou.”
Edwards het met ‘n glimlag bygevoeg: “En om te kyk hoe Matt de Salsa (De Sousa) en Keenan Horne probeer om omgekeerde houe te slaan in oefeninge!”
Edwards se boodskap aan diegene wat agterbly? “Koester elke oomblik, want dit gouer verby as wat jy dink.”
Maties Hockey Last timers: De Voux says goodbye after 11 seasons : 2015-10-05
After a few years he stopped counting the matches and the goals, because playing for Steinhoff Maties hockey club is so much more than games and goals; it’s an experience that can be – and was for him – life changing.
“I will remember my time at Maties as a time of having fun with amazing people doing what we love; working hard together and pushing through any challenge,” said De Voux.
De Voux started playing for the Maroon Machine in 2004 and lost count along time ago of the amount of games he has played and how many goals he has scored as one of Maties’ most prolific strikers ever.
According to De Voux, who also plays for Western Province and South Africa, he has learnt much about hockey and life at his time at Maties. “There is actually to many to mention, but the ones that do stand out are: Relax and keep it simple on attack; Work harder than anyone else in defence and in life, don’t lose your ability to have fun!”
The Engineering student gladly encourages youngsters to come to Maties. “The hockey speaks for itself. The professionalism showed by players and coaches are as good as any club in the world. Another attraction that most won’t know about is the amazing people in the club.”
His best memories include scoring good and important goals in matches and in training. “My two favourite goals were the golden goal in the 2009 final of USSA and the more recent league winner at WPCC. And obviously the off the field memories will never be forgotten either.”
His final message to the teammates he leaves behind, De Voux had the following to say: “Good luck with the hockey. Keep our team culture going and of course stay as long as your life permits you to!”
De Voux in numbers
11 – seasons at Maties
5 – WPGC titles (2007, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015)
3 – USSA gold medals (2005, 2006, 2009)
2009 – Top goal-scorer
2012 – Maties Player of the Year
2013 – Maties Sportman van die Jaar
AFRIKAANS
Maties se De Voux groet na 11 seisoene
Na ‘n paar seisoene het Pierre de Voux ophou tel in hoeveel wedstyde hy speel en hoeveel doele hy aanteken, want om vir die Steinhoff Maties hokkieklub te speel behels soveel meer as wedstryde en doele; dit is ‘n ervaring wat jou lewe kan verander…en dit het beslis syne verander.
“Ek sal my tyd by Maties onthou as ‘n tyd van pret saam met ongelooflike mense en doen waarvan ons hou. Ons het hard saamgewerk en ook baie uitdagings aangepak en oorkom,” het De Voux vertel.
De Voux het in 2004 vir die Maroen-masjien begin speel en lankal ophou doele en wedstryde tel. Hy is een van die voorste doelskieters ooit by Maties.
Volgens De Voux, wat ook vir die Westelike Provinsie en Suid-Afrika speel, het hy baie oor hokkie en die lewe geleer in sy tyd by Maties. “Daar is eintlik te veel om te noem, maar dit wat uitstaan is: Ontspan en hou dit eenvoudig op die aanval; Werk harder as enige iemand anders op die verdediging en in die lewe moet nie jou vermoë om pret te he verloor nie.”
Die Ingeneurstudent moedig jongelinge aan om beslis na Maties te kom. “Die hokkie praat vir ditself. Die professionalisme wat deur spelers en afrigters gewys word is gelyk aan enige ander klub in die wêreld. Dan is daar ook die feit dat daar ongelooflike mense by die klub is.”
Sy beste herinneringe is goeie en belangrike doele wat hy in wedstryde en oefeninge aangeteken het. “My twee gunsteling doele was die goue doel in die 2009 USSA-eindstryd en die meer onlangse liga-wendoel teen WPCC. En natuurlik sal dit wat weg van die veld gebeur het, nooit vergeet word.”
Sy finale boodskap aan sy spanmaats is: “Alles van die beste met die hokkie. Hou ons spankultuur lewendig en bly solank as wat jou lewe dit toelaat by Maties!”
De Voux in nommers
11 – Seisoene by Maties
5 – WPGC titels (2007, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015)
3 – USSA goue medaljes (2005, 2006, 2009)
2009 – Voorste doelskieter
2012 – Maties Speler van die Jaar
2013 – Maties Sportman van die Jaar