Maties Sport played as hosts to the first every Women’s Cocktail evening which was designed to celebrate the strength, resilience, and achievements of women past and present at Stellenbosch University last night.
Keynote Speaker Ongeziwe Mali, Maties Hockey player and recent Olympian spoke about her journey so far in her sporting career and expressed that in her earlier childhood days it wasn’t easy.
“I was born and raised in New Brighton before moving to Zwide. Life was tough, and let me tell you, luxury wasn’t a word in our vocabulary. My mother, an absolute powerhouse, took on the challenge of feeding four kids by selling empty coke bottles for R2 each. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to keep us going.
I remember those hot summer days spent in a container with my mom, where we saw township life on a daily. No fancy holidays for us – we had something better: a bond forged in the fires of struggle. I became known at school for my signature lunch – plain peanut butter and jam bread. No fancy lunches, just good old PB&J. It wasn’t gourmet, but it fuelled me through break and, more importantly, through the long hours of training after school.”
Her childhood shaped her and allowed her to dream big, playing in various national hockey teams she drew on some of her key lessons over the years which includes:
- Embrace the grind
- Respect the culture
- Team work makes the dream work
“My journey from Zwide to the Olympics wasn’t just about hockey; it was about resilience, determination, and the belief that no matter where you come from, you can achieve greatness. My parents showed me that no matter how tough things get, you can always find a way to make things work. They taught me to dream big, and to fight for those dreams with everything I have,” the Maties Hockey star concluded.
Thereafter our panel discussion took place with some world renowned names from Stellenbosch University, facilitated by Maties Sport, Chief Director Ilhaam Groenewald and included:
- Ronel Retief (Stellenbosch University Registrar)
- Farah Fredericks (Deputy Registrar: Tygerberg Campus and former Maties/SA Hockey player)
- Cato Louw (Sportscaster and former Stellenbosch University Alumni)
- Ongeziwe Mali (Maties/SA Hockey player)
Topic: Advancement of student-athlete education in the Higher Education sector
When asked about the advancement of student-athlete education in the higher education sector, Ronel Retief stated that policies need to be implemented to help the facilitation of increased access for students to tertiary education institutions. She also emphasized the need for the sports departments to collaborate and foster relationships with faculties at universities, as they are the key decision-makers in their academic realm.
Topic: Life after sport and 3 top lessons you have learnt through your journey
Farah Fredericks referred to a quote she would hear often “Cowboys don’t cry in front of their horses”, but vulnerability is a valuable lesson says Farah. Her 3 top lessons with life after sport are:
- Vulnerability
- Culture
- Competency
Topic: Influence of sport volunteering and the role it plays in shaping future careers
“I encourage volunteers to help where they can and take it on the chin, I made zero money,” said Cato Louw. Volunteering leads to something bigger, to a different environment and different people expressed Cato.
More insights were shared by the panellists and an engaging questions plus answers followed, with many spot prize giveaways done in between to the gratitude of the crowd.
A big thank you to our keynote speaker, panellists, sponsors and all the guests who attended our first ever cocktail evening! We hope the evening was insightful and that we can continue to champion women across all sectors.
By Maties Sport Media and Communications Unit