Midrand young stars shine at in SA Underwater Hockey team
MIDRAND - Midrand residents Keandra Langston and Kristin Weinert and Jordynne Elferink from Sunninghill were part of the South Africa U19 team that took part in the Junior Underwater Hockey World Championships in Spain last year and won gold.
The South Africans played against teams from New Zealand, Australia, Great Britain, France, Columbia, the Netherlands and Canada. Elferink said they beat New Zealand 2-0 in the pool games and then 3-2 in a hard-fought final.
“Before this tournament, the New Zealand U19 team had not lost a game since the U19 league started in 2004,” she said.
“It was Langston, Weinert and my first time to represent South Africa and we worked very hard to make the SA team.”
Elferink added that the team’s fitness and skills paid off during the gruelling schedule at the world championships.
She had advice for those who wanted to start playing the sport. “I have been playing the sport for three years now and encourage anyone who wants to take up underwater hockey to have great commitment.
“You have to show absolute commitment, passion and desire, your own passion rekindles that of your teammates.”
Langston and Weinert will remain key players in the U19 team while Elferink will be part of the U23 team that will participate in the World Championships in Australia in 2017.
In Gauteng, the juniors play underwater hockey at Christ Church College in Midrand and the seniors at Wahoo Aquatic Centre in Sunninghill.
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