Marvin ready to represent
BEAULIEU – Coming up from the Eastern Cape to Johannesburg to play for Beaulieu in his high school years, Marvin Simons hopes to set the hockey world ablaze.
A former Beaulieu College star hockey player will represent South Africa in the International Hockey Federation Junior World Cup in India from November 24.
The squad was announced on July 19, and 20-year-old Queenstown-born Marvin Simons, who is the striker for Beaulieu Hockey Academy, said even though there was immense pressure, he was still excited to represent his country. “This is a childhood dream come true. I used to look up to the SA [hockey] men and say to myself ‘I’m going to be there one day’. It took a lot of time to adapt to the fact that I am a SA U21 player,” he said.
“We had camps from 2019, and we started with a squad of 45. In a squad of 45, I didn’t feel special because I had to think about what I add to the side. With every camp, players were cut until 18 players were left and I started finding my feet.”
Simons was in Grade 3 when he started playing hockey and was introduced to the sport by his father who was a midfielder.
The 20-year-old said his late Beaulieu coach, Allistar Fredericks was his inspiration as he continued to push him to do his best. “I don’t know how he did it, but he has this magic in him where he just gets you to do what you need to do and what you can do.
“I remember all the stories he would tell. He did a lot to get to the top and represented the country. To do all he did and do it alone to get where he was with all the oppression, crime and drugs in the community is truly amazing.”
Simons will attend University of Johannesburg (UJ) next year, where he is happy to become a part of UJ’s rebuilding phase in the sport.
“UJ hockey used to be so good. Their current coach has to now rebuild, and he’s now getting new and good players. I’ve always loved being the underdog, so UJ can come from the bottom and do great,” he added.
Looking to the future, Simons said he wanted to get his name out there by being selected for the senior outdoor side. He also hopes to play for clubs in Germany, Belgium or London.
