Toti hockey captain gears up to defend champion title

Captain of Amanzimtoti High School’s first hockey team, Tayla Potgieter (17) is chomping at the bit to lead her team onto the Three Schools’ Trust Astro when they host the Durban South regionals of the SPAR KZN hockey challenge on Sunday, 7 April.

Amanzimtoti High holds the prestigious title of defending champs at this regional, one they have claimed four times in the tournament’s nine-year history, taking them through to the grand finals.

Eager to galvanise her team’s spirit to retain the honours, Tayla, who plays link for her team, lives by the words: You are your own limit. “Although, while winning is fantastic, we should not be afraid of failure. I have a friend whom I always try to keep positive and sometimes all it takes is believing in yourself. We should not be afraid of making mistakes or trying new skills, and the only thing we should play for is our teams and ourselves.”

With a recent sponsorship deal signed with Gryphon Hockey, this grade 11 pupil is going places. Tayla sports full colours for hockey and netball, was pronounced Sportsgirl of the Year and was also honoured with Junior Hockey Player of the Year in 2017.

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She said the best piece of advice she has ever been given is “you can’t win physically if you are losing mentally”. “It taught me to never give up; to always have my head in the game. This is what drives me through my life.”

With this real passion for sports Tayla tries to play as much as she can throughout the year during the various seasons, including netball, swimming, waterpolo, soccer, softball and, of course, hockey. “I began playing hockey in grade 3 at the age of nine at Warner Beach Preparatory. I loved it and the bug bit. I love how I can make new friends while playing, and I love that I learn new skills everyday. I find hockey totally de-stresses me.”

With Geography listed as her favourite subject because she finds “it is so interesting to learn about the planet that we live on”, Tayla wants to become a teacher, and hopes to study through the Durban North Varsity College and specialise in occupational therapy.

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When not on the sports field, Tayla enjoys taking it easy with her mates. “I love going to the beach with my friends, watching movies and listening to music.” Besides looking to her dad as her role model in life, Tayla cites her former coach, well-known Durban hockey coach, Michael Baker, as her sporting role model. “I really look up to him and find his passion for the game so inspiring.”

Catch eight teams in action at the Durban South regional – fixtures will be announced at a late date. Follow SPAR Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge on Facebook and Instagram.