SA Women's Hockey star Edith Molikoe living her dream despite sacrifices

Hockey South Africa, like most minor federations in the country, is underfunded and played by full-time working athletes or full-time students like Molikoe.

The 23-year-old tells SABC Sport, despite being a constant feature in global tournaments such as the Olympics Games, World Cups, and Commonwealth Games, her parents often have to fund her participation for the national team.

"My parents or we'll go out to the community and ask for sponsorship, and do our own fund raising. It's not easy going out and asking people for money all the time, it's a lot, and no one just gives anyone money," shared Molikoe.

"It's so difficult for a team that doesn't have a sponsor because, in order to get sponsors, you have to win, but you cannot win without sponsors, so it's very hard and we do have family friends that try and help us where they can, but it's very difficult."

Molikoe, who is in her second year of a teaching degree at the University of Pretoria, shares some of the sacrifices she’s had to make to represent South Africa in both field and indoor hockey.

"Being a student, you have tests on campus, you have exams, and obviously it's always a privilege to play for your national team, but there are hard decisions that have to be made," she added.

"At the beginning of the year with the Indoor World Cup as well, I was away from home from January and I haven't seen my parents ever since because I've been busy throughout the year.

"There are times when I've had to fly in to come and write an exam, just to fly back out for a camp, so physically and mentally it has been draining as well. It also takes out time from my university commitments, coming back tired and it's a lot on a person."

Molikoe was part of the recent AFCON-winning squad that qualified for the 2024 Olympic Games. And as part of Team South Africa, should she be selected, her and teammates will at least not have to concern themselves with funding, as SASCOC will foot the bill for all its athletes in France next July, which isn't always the case.

"[We've struggled and worried] about finances to get things like a passport. Sometimes we are away for a month, where am I going to get the finances to sustain me for a month?" 

Despite these obstacles, the young forward, who inherited her father's athletic ability, insists she would still pick up a hockey stick given the choice again.

"My parents ask me the same thing. Many ask, 'But you don't get paid, so why?' [And I tell them] I love this sport so much. For me, it's never about finances, I didn't start in this sport because of finances. I just love the game so much, it makes me happy. It's my place whee I can reconnect with people, I love a team environment." 

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