Mohale says her mother’s advice is the reason she is an Olympian hockey player

TuksSport

Mohale says her mother’s advice is the reason she is an Olympian hockey player

By Wilhelm De Swardt | Photographer: Reg Caldecott

‘My mother, Mpho, is my role model. She is an inspiration and has taught me to be independent. My mother is unafraid of standing up and speaking out if she believes in something. She taught me to never buckle in what is perceived to be a men’s world. She has always encouraged me to fight for what I want in life.’

When Lerato Mohale was a young girl, her mom would say, ‘Bophelo ke ntwa,’ which in Tswana means life is a fight and struggle.

It inspired Mohale to work harder in everything she did, and her tenacity is what ultimately led to her becoming an Olympian hockey player.

Mohale, who is a 21-year-old BEng (Civil Engineering) student at the University of Pretoria, made her debut for the Proteas at the Tokyo Games. To her it felt as if she was rushing in where angels fear to tread, but she loved it.

‘To be at the Games was an incredible experience. For years I watched international sports stars on television and then suddenly I had the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of these heroes; they are athletes who have inspired and motivated me. It was pretty crazy! What I will remember fondly is the way in which the Japanese went out of their way to make everyone’s Olympic experience remarkable.’

Things did not go as planned for the South African women’s hockey team who played on Astroturf. They lost all their games.

‘We were the most inexperienced side, and unfortunately we are not able to play internationally for nearly eighteen months. Still, I was able to earn my first cap playing against excellent teams. The experience was an eyeopener and it will stand us in good stead for the future. We need financial support and more opportunities to play.’

As a child in Klerksdorp, she loved football and never missed any opportunity to kick a ball around. ‘I played with boys mostly but found I could out-dribble the best. Unfortunately, there were no opportunities for girls to play football in Klerksdorp.’

Then someone suggested that she take up hockey instead, because it was like playing football with a ‘stick’. She loved it, and hockey offered her the opportunity to play competitively. Mohale was selected for the South African under-18 and under-21 sides.

‘I still watch a lot of football. Lionel Messi is my hero. It is genuinely inspiring to watch him play,’ the Tuks player said.

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