A young learner from Tygerberg High School and three others are preparing to travel to the Netherlands in Europe later this year, where they will be taking part in the International Netherlands Hockey Tour.
Natalie February, the mother of young Ashwin February, a Grade 11 learner and hockey player, says the family is currently busy raising much needed funds for the trip. The competition takes place from Sunday 5 October to Tuesday 14 October.
Natalie says Ashwin and fellow high school learners Jesse da Costa, Isaiah Swarts and Gabriella Gaffley, were selected to represent the Belcotex Sport Invitation Hockey Team for the upcoming tour.
The tour is organised by Aspire Sports Travel (AST), a tour agency based in Pretoria. As part of the AST programme, this tour also offers players the chance to be scouted by Netherlands Hockey Clubs, providing a significant opportunity to play hockey abroad after high school.
AST helps young hockey players join clubs after school that have completed our tour and scouting programme, the letter of invitation by AST reads.
Ashwin is the goalkeeper of the 1st u-19 team.
“He received this invitation after getting the player of the match game at school where there were scouts. He has been playing since Grade 8, started on the A-team and played his way up to be in the 1st team,” his mother says.
Natalie says their family is currently hosting fundraisers for Ashwin to go as the cost is quite high. A Zumba fitness class will be held on Saturday 30 August at the Richwood Community Hall as part of the fundraising efforts. “The eventual cost was R57 990, but with the increase of the interest rate it is now R63 000. I have raised about R20 000 and had to make payments out of pocket. We had a raffle and friends, family and colleagues just donated. We also had a bootcamp event end of June and there we raised R3 100,” she explains.
As part of the tour, the group will visit Amsterdam, Antwerp and Rotterdam.
For more information or to help, call Natalie on 078 317 8656.
