“Being my first year in the senior team, I was very excited for the tournament. I love the whole adventure of being on tour – a week full of hockey with friends, nothing beats that,” said Chiara.
A hockey player since the age of 12, she plays for Collegians Hockey Club and is an accomplished umpire. She has attained her SA level 1 umpires award and has umpired at tournaments including the SA U16 inter-provincial tournament and the Spar Aquelle Festival.
A Ridge Park matriculant, Chiara coaches at Grosvenor Girls High School. This modest young woman counts winning the parent’s race at her seven-year-old cousins sports day as one of her greatest achievements. She aspires to study further and hopes to bolster her sporting career.
One of the founding members of I’m Possible Foundation, she along with Wade Wonfor, Danelle and Varetia Pillay, aim to assist young people by providing opportunities to experience, grow and excel on the sports field.
The foundation’s main project sees them collect new and used sports equipment which is then donated to schools and individuals who require assistance. The foundation has to date distributed 1,162 pairs of shin guards to underprivileged youth. In partnership with KZN Hockey, they hosted a hockey clinic in the July holidays. In the month of September, the foundation hopes to donate soccer balls to an orphanage in Inanda.
Hockey ace gives life stick off the field too
BLUFF go-getter, Chiara Benati's (21) fancy stick-work earned her a spot in the KZN Mynahs hockey team that took part in the inter-provincial tournament in Port Elizabeth on 18 to 24 August.
