As part of this year’s SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge, Varsity College came on board to offer a bursary to a player that stood out for them at the regionals that took place around KZN this year.
The announcement commenced at the prize giving at the Grand Finals this year at St Mary’s DSG. With the decision being so hard, and the talent shown at the various regionals, Varsity College made the decision to offer two bursaries.
Carole Adam, National Sports Manager from Varsity College stated, “Our dedicated team went to all the regionals around Kwa-Zulu Natal, watching the games and were completely impressed with the level of hockey in our province!”
Continuing, Adam explained, “The quality of hockey made our decision extremely difficult, so on reviewing the possible bursary winners from around KZN, and what they could bring to our hockey team, we opted to open up two bursaries this year! We also didn’t want to waste the opportunity and offer it to a player who didn’t intend on using it!”
The two winners of the bursaries are Tegan Fourie from St Mary’s DSG and Courtney Slaney from Westville Girls’ High School.
Part of the winning team, Vice-Captain for St Mary’s DSG ended her school playing hockey career on a high. “Winning the final would definitely be the highlight of this year’s SPAR tournament. That, together with being awarded the bursary certainly is the best moments of the hockey weekend!”
“It is every athletes dream to represent their country in their chosen sport at big events like the Olympics. So, winning this bursary and being able to further my hockey career is extremely exciting for me!” The midfielder enthused. Fourie was recently selected in the SA U18A team and the SA U21 team that will be travelling to Chile for the Junior World Cup.
The sport driven individual plans on studying a diploma in Sports Development and Management next year.
Slaney was the second recipient of this year’s Varsity College Bursary and she intends to study a B Comm in Marketing. “It is a three year course, and I am really excited to be able to balance my studies and being able to play with one of the top hockey teams in the country! I feel very privileged that I have this opportunity!”
Slaney shared, “Hockey is my happy place! I love how it drives you. You have to have a passion for it and I am fortunate to be able to say, I most definitely do!”
Captain for the Westville First team, Slaney has been playing hockey since Grade 3 and works her magic up front as a striker, “We have had a great season this year and I am so proud of all of us! I love to play with them; it makes all the hard work so much more enjoyable!”
Varsity College have agreed that they will offer another bursary next year at the SPAR KZN School Girls’ Hockey Challenge.
The tournament kicks off in February 2017 with ten regionals taking place ahead of the Grand Finals in July 2017.