Kia-Leigh gets nod for Netherlands trip
CLARENDON High School Matric pupil Kia-Leigh Erasmus was recently selected to a 32-strong hockey team that will be travelling to the Netherlands in November.
Out of the 20 hockey teams that participated at the All Girls Festival, hosted by Clarendon High School this year, Erasmus is the only local player to be chosen for the team. The tour is organised by Travel and Sport, who provided sponsorship for the All Girls Festival.
Coaches were asked to nominate their most valuable players to a festival team to tour the Netherlands and Erasmus got the nod.
The team will travel to Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam where they will be playing three matches against local teams, take part in two training sessions and watching a Hoofdklasse (local league) match.
“At first I was shocked but now I am very excited as it is a very talented group of girls and it is great to make new friends. I sometimes still pinch myself to check if this is really true,” said the 17-year-old, who started playing hockey in Grade 1.
“I started playing hockey at Crewe Primary School and was mostly inspired by my older brother who also played hockey at school.
“I continued playing after I transferred to Clarendon and was delighted to make the first team when I was in Grade 10.”
Erasmus has since reached her 100th cap for the first team as well as achieving a myriad of other successes, such as being selected vice-captain of the South African U16B team.
She is currently also the Clarendon first team captain.
She hopes to deliver top performances for Clarendon and Border at the IPT in Pietermaritzburg and will continue playing hockey at university.