Viveshen aims for stars
Thahir Asmal speaks to up-and-coming hockey star Viveshen Thaver
TEENAGER Viveshen Thaver’s hard work and determination on the hockey field look to have paid off. The Glenwood Boys’ High School pupil has been called up to the Kwazulu-natal Under-16 team for the South African Schools inter-provincial tournament in July.
Having earned a call-up at U14 level in 2010, he is no stranger to the game at provincial level.
“I am really looking forward to playing at this level again,” he said. “We went through a really gruelling selection process, but thankfully everyone was given a chance to impress.”
His induction at provincial level two years ago really helped fast-track his game.
“Playing at provincial level was very different from what we were exposed to at school,” the 16-year-old said. “The intensity was far greater. It was a different world altogether.
“I know that playing U16 now will help me prepare for hockey at a senior level in a few years’ time. I am determined to prove myself and playing at these tournaments gives me a chance to do that.
“It is great to see different styles of hockey from the Western Cape and Gauteng. That kind of experience will definitely help me grow my own game.”
Ironically, Thaver never set out to play competitive hockey, opting to play the game as a second sport at school.
“At school we were required to choose two sports: a winter and a summer sport and I selected hockey. I was 10 at the time and had never played the game before, but still went straight into the C team.
“I soon grew to enjoy the game and a year later I found myself playing in the first team. Today I love it. It’s highpaced and takes my mind off the world.”
Thaver is also a budding cricketer, achieving provincial colours at U13 level. He still turns out for his school’s first team, but has decided to shift his energies to hockey.
“Playing for the provincial team is very important to me and I feel like I have a good future in the game.”
South Africa’s hockey teams on both the men’s and women’s sides heroically qualified for the London Olympic Games. Thaver followed the qualification process closely. “Watching both teams qualify showed me how much talent South Africa has and what can be achieved in the sport.
“I would love to play for the country one day. It is the dream of every sportsman to take part in the Olympics and I am no different.”