A STAR ON THE WORLD STAGE

BY LONWABO MARELE

GILLIAN HERMANUS, a student at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), is not just about hitting the books – she’s also a star on the hockey field. Playing for Namibia, she’s made quite a name for herself. With 66 caps, Hermanus has represented Namibia’s senior team in 20 outdoor Astroturf matches and in 46 indoor games. She has scored more than 31 goals indoors. At junior level, she earned 15 caps. Hermanus has also played for Western Province at under-21 and senior levels.

HER JOURNEY in the Namibian team started in 2014 when she played in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Africa Youth Olympic Games qualifying tournament in Zambia. Since then, she’s played in places such as Berlin, Spain, Zimbabwe and Durban. And whether it’s in big tournaments like the Indoor Hockey World Cup or tough games against South Africa, Hermanus gives it her all.

“I STARTED PLAYING for the Namibian national senior women’s indoor side at 17, and I would spend most of my time on the bench,” she says.

“After hard work and honest conversations with my coaches, I started to solidify my position in the side. It was only in 2017 when I really became comfortable being in the side when we won the Indoor Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).”

HERMANUS IS NOT JUST GOOD AT HOCKEY; SHE’S A LEADER TOO. During Test matches against South Africa in 2018, she emerged as the leading goalscorer, inspiring her team to victory. She played in the teams that helped Namibia to win the Indoor Afcon three times. She’s also played on big stages such as the FIH Women’s Series Finals, and helps to make sure games are fair as an official.

IN 2023, she represented Namibia in the FIH Indoor World Cup for the second time, showcasing her skills on the international stage. She captained the indoor team to victory at the Nkosi Cup in December, and her participation in the African Hockey Road to Paris 2024 tournament further cemented her status as one of Namibia’s top athletes.

BALANCING HER STUDIES towards a master’s in medical bioscience with her passion for hockey hasn’t been easy, but she’s proven time and again that with dedication and hard work, anything is possible.

“HAVING A GOOD SUPPORT SYSTEM or creating a good support system will get you wherever you want to go in life,” she says. “And being open with people and asking for help when you need it will go a long way, especially at UWC. The people at UWC, whether they are staff or peers, only want to see you succeed.”