A young and upcoming hockey player from Bethlehem is a member of the national U21 team that is currently representing the country at the junior world cup in Chile, South America.
With this participation, the team could qualify to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games.
The 19-year-old Ntsopa Mokoena is a Gr. 11 learner at the Voortrekker High School. In 2022 she made huge waves by being chosen for the national U18 team. Since then, her hockey career has reached several heights.
In her time as a learner of the Graanveld Primary School, Ntsopa was a keen netball player and a very good athlete. She did, however, not really show any interest in hockey until coach Emile Odendaal of Voortrekker spotted her potential and encouraged her to develop her skills.
“I am very thankful for coach Emile, who believes in me and helped me to reach my full potential and goals,” says Ntsopa.
Before being selected for the South African U18 hockey team, Ntsopa represented the Free State team from 2020 until 2022 and the Northern Free State team from 2018 until 2022.
“Somedays it still feels unreal knowing that my dream to play for the national team came true; and I must say, I am very proud of myself. Proud might be an understatement, because not many people get the opportunity to represent their country and to play on international level at my age.”
Ntsopa hopes to get the opportunity to also play hockey in other countries.
Following a healthy diet, keeping fit, believing in herself, and training four days per week is her recipe for success. Her advice to young and upcoming sportsmen and women is to never give up on their dreams, no matter the circumstances they are facing.
Ntsopa has great interest in rugby and mentions she would not mind trying the game, as she likes the physicality of it. She says she is very fast, which should be to her advantage. Ntsopa is the second child of Edward and Annah Mokoena from Bethlehem.
