POLOKWANE- An unexpected call from a hockey coach is all that was needed to ignite Arno Joubert’s passion for the sport as a young boy.
Joubert, a teacher and hockey coach at his alma mater,, is the assistant coach for the Limpopo u/18A boys team.
Reflecting on his journey, he said he took up hockey in Gr 8 after receiving a phone call from his school’s hockey coach, requesting him to help out for a day or two.
He availed himself reluctantly, he told Review, and that was the beginning of a much bigger story.
“From there, hockey became my focus and passion. I continued to play throughout high school and naturally pursued coaching after school, especially since I was studying to become a teacher.”
It has been 11 years since that call and he has been coaching now for five years.
In 2018, he started coaching the u/16 team girls at PEPPS, a journey he describes as exciting and filled with learning opportunities.
“In 2021, I got involved with Limpopo hockey and was offered then opportunity to manage the u/16B boys side in 2022.
“This was a whole new scene for me and again allowed me to develop myself as a coach.”
He describes his experience as Limpopo team coach as nothing short of amazing.
“It is a humbling experience, but also a chance on a broader perspective than just school hockey. It allows you to witness how the province handles hockey, where there is room for improvement and how things have improved over time. It has allowed me to grow as an individual and given me the opportunity to improve the standard of hockey at my school,” he said.
Joubert describes himself as extremely competitive by nature, which he says helps to drive him as a coach.
“My focus is to ensure that the teams perform at their full capability, while still having fun at the same time,” he concluded.
