Amba is passionate about hockey

AMBA Brown, who plays right half for the Durban Girls’ College First X1 hockey team, the Durban Central Regional champs of the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, is eager to get onto the astro at the grand finals that takes place at St Mary’s DSG on 20 and 21 July.

The plucky 18-year old who is in matric, not only is an ace on the astro with honours for hockey (2019), but also sports colours for waterpolo (2017) and half colours for football (2017). She has represented KZN in hockey for seven years from 2013 to 2019, and in waterpolo from 2013 to 2017. Her leadership roles include being head of her school house and vice captain of the swimming team.

Amba began playing hockey in Grade 1 at a mini-hockey club on the Bluff, and said that she still plays with many of the children that she met at the club.

“We play against each other in school league and sometimes in the women’s super league. I’ve played hockey ever since and love it,” she said.

Clearly Amba is completely passionate about the sport, but what is the attraction?

“The people,” she said. “I enjoy spending time with friends and making memories. There are such good memories of doing a cool skill or scoring a well-needed goal. Also the backing of your players and how your own team-mates back you. They will always be there for you to help or encourage you. Tours are the best, you get to go and play the sport you love with the people that you enjoy being with, against some amazing schools and you get to watch some brilliant hockey from the best schools in the country.”

ALSO READ: Schoolgirls’ hockey challenge kicks off

Using hockey as a great opportunity to learn some life lessons, Amba said the best bit of advice she has been given by a coach is “a come back is achievable no matter what.”

She explained: “I’ve recently come back from a tournament where we were losing 2 -nil down and ended the game in a draw 3 all. We learnt that giving up is not an option regardless the score. That you need to back yourself 100 per cent of the time.”

Having played in last year’s grand finals, Amba is looking forward to playing again this year. “St Mary’s was once again in the finals and I remember rooting for them. All the teams and parents all finding good spots to try and watch a good game between them and St Anne’s. The whole atmosphere was amazing as there were so much support for schoolgirls hockey.”

Always on the go, Amba says in her spare time she enjoys anything that keeps her busy. “I play sport in my spare time, anything from hockey to water polo to gym, basically anything that is active. I have just recently taken up scrap booking and I absolutely love it.”

And words she lives by? “Mistakes are proof that you are trying. The comeback is always stronger than the set back.” Sage words, for a young person on the move.

Durban Girls’ College joins nine other teams from KZN at the Grand finals including St Anne’s Diocesan Colleg, Kokstad College, Epworth School, Crawford La Lucia, Ferrum High School, Wartburg Kirchdorf School, St Mary’s DSG, Felixton and Amanzimtoti High School

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