This past June/July season the Maties women’s hockey team delivered outstanding results at the 2025 University Sport South Africa (USSA) Winter Championships. Months of physical training, mental preparation, and fine-tuning technical skills culminated in a remarkable achievement — bringing home the gold!
The USSA Championship, which took place at Stellenbosch University’s (SU) newly renovated astro, demanded more than just talent. For the team, it was not only about their physical readiness, but their mental steadiness too.
“The mental preparation for USSA, started earlier on as well- the team would have mental sessions with a mental coach and build on each session leading up to USSA. We all knew that proper preparation physically and mentally would put us in a great position to do well at the USSA championship,” said Caylin Maree, the striker for the Maties team.
The core of the team’s chemistry was evident in the way that they focused on fostering stronger relationships off the field. Beyond their formal training, the players leaned on one another – by building trust, lifting each others’ spirits, and pushing harder.
The belief that they were stronger together echoed throughout the squad. A quote from Helen Keller captures this perfectly: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
The Maties’ precision, discipline, and warm passion shone throughout the championship. It was their rock-solid defence and clinical finishes that set them apart from the competition. Under the guidance of their head coach, Linda Daniels, the squad not only played as a cohesive unit, but also adapted with confidence whenever a hurdle rose.
It was the realisation that they were playing on their home turf, Coetzenburg, for something far bigger than themselves, that kept them motivated and inspired Maree. When that final whistle blew, they knew that the gold medal was more than just a win – it was the result of months of hard work, unity, belief and the endless roars of support.
As the Maties celebrated this momentous win, their eyes were focused on the future ahead, too!
By Anica Hattingh
