Jessy Coltman sets her sights on Chile
The hockey player has big plans to one day be part of our country's national team.
Though visitors of a Netherlands art museum can find themselves entranced by Johannes Vermeer’s painting titled The Girl with the Pearl Earring, South African hockey fans find themselves captivated by the sporting talents of Jessy Coltman, who is quickly being remembered as ‘the girl with the blue eye’.
Though her eyes are brown, she quickly gained this moniker through the injuries she sustained at matches, especially inter-provincial tournaments.
When she was about seven years old she saw girls playing hockey at a nearby field, and in that moment she knew she had found the sport she wanted to be part of.
Originally from Gqeberha, the University of Johannesburg student describes herself as having been a wild, naughty child who could have been found playing with her brother. Even though she had the opportunity to try out most sports, it was the intensity of hockey that drew her to it.
Coltman recently represented the country in Egypt where she participated in the Junior Africa Cup. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I was honoured to wear the green and gold badge on my chest. I will never forget this opportunity as we brought the gold medal and trophy back home. To be a part of this experience that many girls dream of was surreal.”
This sport has done so much for her, as it has impacted her life in ways she reckons are the greatest possible. “Not only did I gain lifelong friendships from hockey, it helped me improve my social skills; it taught me discipline, respect good morals and values and integrity.”
She is currently in training to be part of the team that will participate in the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup 2023 in Santiago, Chile, in December. This would be her first international tournament with this team and she has one objective – to keep her head down as she continues doing the extra work nobody else sees.
Hockey is not always the clanking of hockey sticks in jubilation, it has also had its fair share of disappointments – from not being selected for a certain team, to having injuries that have affected her performance on the field. “The biggest challenge would be my injuries. I have been concussed twice, sprained my ankle on several occasions, dislocated my joints, busted my finger open and every inter-provincial tournament that I have been to I went back home with a blue eye.”
These setbacks however, have only made her stronger.
To fellow athletes she encourages you to have the strength needed to see past disappointments, “You will be tested in the worst ways possible; there will be many obstacles that you will have to face, but it makes you stronger. Always have faith in the greater good; do not let anyone or anything define you.” She added that you should keep moving and praying and work on your goals as it’ll all be worth it in the end.
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