UJ student called up to work with the national hockey team

AUCKLAND PARK – The University of Johannesburg’s Taren Naidoo is excited to be working with South Africa’s national women’s hockey team.

Naidoo, a 31-year-old sports scientist, was appointed to the team last year. She shared her joy over her appointment by saying working with the national team had always been the ultimate accomplishment for her. She said, “Representing your country in any way is a privilege and I am humbled and excited all at once.”

Naidoo grew up in Dundee and Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal but now lives in Sandton. She reflected on her upbringing and had kind words for her family and former educator’s involvement in getting her to where she is today. “I owe my parents, brother and sister so much for supporting me in all I do. My supervisor, Professor Andrew McKune, from the University of KZN, who is now based at the Australian Institute of Sport, also played a huge role in my journey to this point.”

Having qualified from university with honours in sports science and a masters in exercise physiology, Naidoo now works with the UJ women’s basketball and hockey teams. “As the sports scientist for those teams, I manage and work with each athlete on an individual basis.”

She admitted that she wasn’t always interested in sport. Naidoo said she wasn’t a talented sportsperson at school but decided to give it a shot when she got to university. “I participated in everything, water polo, badminton, hockey, tennis, basketball, rhythmic gymnastics, netball. You name it, if I had time I was there and would get involved.”

She will work on the player’s strength and conditioning, on the field and in the gym, as well as skill sessions. She added, “As a sports scientist you get to work with new equipment and technology that the industry has. Every day is a different day at work and working with people is a passion of mine.”

All of this is rewarding for Naidoo as she gets to see the growth of every player and know that she was part of the process that may lead to the players winning gold medals and trophies.

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