LANGA HOCKEY

Langa township's hockey talent gives them stick 

Wednesday 14 May 2014 - 7:25am

CAPE TOWN - In 1960, the eyes of the world were on South Africa during the political turmoil, which saw many lives lost in townships such as Sharpville and Langa.

Sport has played a pivotal role in helping Langa overcome its challenges since those dark days of apartheid. 

Today the battlefields of the past have been turned into playing grounds by teams like Langa Hockey Club.

The club is also proud of being the only one in a township in South Africa that has an astro turf.

Hockey was first introduced to Langa by the late South African cricket coach Bob Woolmer in 1987.

Woolmer, who used to run cricket coaching clinics in the township, wanted his cricketers to stay active during the cricket off-season.

He achieved a real coup by introducing a sport which is rarely played in most of South Africa’s disadvantaged communities.

The Langa hockey club&39;s story is one that brings hope to a community that continues to strive for a positive future despite many of its past and present challenges.

Its aim now is to continue striving for excellence in a sport that is still unknown in many of the country’s poor communities.

As eNCA reporter Ronald Masinda shows, there’s a plethora of hockey talent in Langa - watch his video report in the gallery above.