PHOTO: FACEBOOK
From Gqeberha to the world!
In less than a month, this will be the reality of Gqeberha-born, 25-year-old hockey star Ongeziwe Mali, who was selected as part of the national women's hockey team.
Mali, who has been playing sports since the age of 10, shared it was by chance that she ended up on the hockey field.
"I had a project with a classmate of mine, who first had to go to hockey training. She gave me everything I needed and off we went," Mali recalls.
Their coach at the time was their Grade 4 teacher who convinced her that she was good and should take up the sport.
"The rest is history," she said with a giggle.
From then, Mali has been on a steady incline and led Stellenbosch University's first team to back-to-back victories during their University Sports South Africa (USSA) as the captain.
She also made an appearance at the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup which was held in London.
Speaking on her inclusion in the Olympics team, Mali says the news could not have come at a better time.
"Just the day before the announcement, I asked a friend of mine how am I going to celebrate my birthday if I didn't make the team?"
Little did she know that she would be celebrating two milestones in the 24 hours that followed.
'A BIG DEAL'
"I received the news on my birthday.
"It was so special because I was with my closest friends."
Mali said she could not have gotten this far without God, her family, and friends.
The hockey star said it was a rigorous journey to get to where she is now.
"The one thing that I have always wanted for myself is to be disciplined and be and consistent - and I believe sports can ensure those two things."
Obstacles are also part of the journey and she said exclusion from teams and injuries are part of an athlete's life but the plan is to always come back stronger and better.
"I always say things happen for a reason and one just has to keep on knocking on doors and if they don't open, there will always be another one down the passage."
Mali could not stop speaking about the impact the selection to the team has on her and her aspirations for the children from Zwide, where she grew up.
"My dream is pretty much the same as that of [Springboks captain] Siya Kolisi - wanting children from the township to never stop dreaming and to work hard."
Quizzed on her personal goals for the Olympics, Mali said: "Firstly, to be among only 16 people selected in the whole country, is a big deal and I want to bask in that.
"I also want to play to the best of my ability, with flair and without fear and to represent the country and community as best I can."
The Paris Olympics kick off on 26 July until 11 August.
