Langa sparking interest in township hockey

FRIDAY nights are no longer the same in the bustling and vibrant township of Langa.

The local hockey team organise a weekly “5km community run” in conjunction with Red Sock Friday, and it is proving to be a major hit among the locals and players.

The run was arranged to drum up support for the local hockey club and encourage the locals to join in. The numbers are growing and you don’t have to be Usain Bolt to join the fray, with all ages and sizes welcome.

The runs are sparking interest from the community as well as out-of-towners, all in an effort to pack the local ground for the first league fixture in April.

Langa had a fairly competitive 2015 season, finishing sixth in their eight-team league. Four of the club’s players were capped at provincial level, a first in Langa’s 28-year history.

Such feats would’ve impressed the late Bob Woolmer, who was responsible for introducing the township community to the sport in 1987. Coaches such as Colin Harris, Keith Richardson and John Gilmore laid the foundations for the club.

Former South Africa and Western Province player John McInroy and Lungile Tsolekile are the joint player-coaches at Langa, with SA high-performance coach Pierre le Roux also assisting the club once a week. Le Roux’s assistance will be a boost as Langa have always had offensive flair, but have at times lacked the defensive skills required to compete at the top level.

Ex-Maties star Rob Edwards has also returned to the club he represented as a schoolboy and his presence will strengthen their midfield resources.

A 2008 Olympian and the second black African player to represent his country, Tsolekile is definitely the heartbeat of Langa hockey. He has represented WP since Under-13 level and debuted in the same year as SA stalwart Austin Smith.

The pair have participated in many local and international tournaments over the past 18 years, and Tsolekile’s experience has inspired a new generation of players at Langa.