Sian Maart (2022) se passie vir hokkie kom sterk na vore in hierdie artikel van 16 Mei wat Wilhelm de Swardt vir TuksHockey geskryf het, maar op skool was hy ook ‘n kranige rugbyspeler en atleet
One thing the 19-year-old Sian Maart (2022) enjoys is “eliminating” opponents during an attack in a hockey game. It might sound like he is going to extremes, but he is not. The reality is that he is passionate about hockey. At the same time, it does not matter which team he plays for as he puts winning and contributing to the forefront.
“I love to be on the attack during a game. There is a definite thrill to ‘eliminate’ the opposition,” says Maart, who represented South Africa in the recent 2023 Junior Hockey Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
When told that to use the words “to eliminate opponents,” make it sound as if he is the bully in the team, the Tuks student-athlete only laughs and then explains what he means.
“What attracted me to hockey is the fast pace at which the game is played. To be competitive means, you must hone your skills to absolute perfection. The better your technique, the better your play. I play as an outside midfielder or a ‘very high’ midfielder. It boils down to having the ability to outsmart your opponents with nimble footwork and good stickwork. It definitely helps to be tactically savvy as well. To me, this comes down to ‘eliminating’ your opponents.”
Maart matriculated at Paul Roos Gimnasium in Stellenbosch, so it can be wondered what made him decide to come to Tuks as he is a first-year student.
“For a long time, I have admired the quality of hockey played at Tuks. As far as I am concerned, Sigz Ntuli is one of the best coaches in South Africa. I want to be coached by him.”
According to Maart, he was also an avid rugby player and an athlete at primary school. Sprinting used to be his thing. In his prime, he could clock 11.20s over the 100 metres.
“I know it is not that fast, but for hockey it is fast enough.”
Maart admits there are days when he wonders how his sports career would have played out had he decided to stick to playing rugby, especially since there is big money to be made in the professional game.
“I played as flyhalf or fullback. In my matric year, I could not resist the urge to play rugby again. Without my coach’s knowledge, I played a game or two. My coach was quite upset when he found out about it. He threatened to take me off the team. And so, my rugby career ended. I have no regrets. Hockey is my game. My immediate goal is to make sure I get to play for the Proteas U-21-side that will be competing at the 13th FIH Hockey Junior Cup edition in Malaysia later this year in December.”
Wilhelm De Swardt
