Hockey National team player, Tlotla Larona Kgosi Ponoesele will be moving to the Philippines, where he will further his Physiotherapy studies through sponsorship at Manila Adventist University.
The 19 year old is optimistic that this move will open doors for him and help take his Hockey career to the next level as he targets to play competitive hockey before he breaks into the mainstream hockey in the country.
Although he has recently joined the national team, Ponoesele is confident that he will maintain the place as he seeks to play competitive hockey at the University and join some of the local teams.
“I have been active locally, attending 99% of every hockey activity as far as playing games, attending coaching clinics. We have friendly games every Thursday night and some coaching clinics for the younger generation on
Saturday mornings at the UB courts,” the Basil Hockey Club player said.
Although his overseas move is academically influenced, the hard hitting play is hopeful that it will help elevate his career and has hit two birds with one stone. “Going overseas is going to help me broaden my experience and knowledge on the sport outside Africa as there are different ways to learn and play the sport.”
He believes it will be beneficial not only for him but for the growth of sports in the country. He states that he will have to do his research on the teams there.
What will be critical for him is maintaining his national team place while he is still settling abroad. “We are to compete at the hockey 5s World Cup Qualifiers at the end of this year, of which I'm not sure I will attend. I will have to put in twice as much effort in order to be called back to represent my country,” he stressed.
Furthermore, the player is aware of the challenges that might come along the way and he will not lose hope in anything that he wishes to achieve, be it playing for the national team in hockey at high levels of hockey or having big dreams.
“As a person you have to build up bit by bit patiently on where you are as things will unfold eventually and always involve the mighty Lord above because it is through Him that we achieve our goals and dreams.”
Hockey in Philippines is an emerging sport, the country hosted ice hockey competition at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held at the SM Mall of Asia Skating Rink in Pasay.
The 19 year old is optimistic that this move will open doors for him and help take his Hockey career to the next level as he targets to play competitive hockey before he breaks into the mainstream hockey in the country.
Although he has recently joined the national team, Ponoesele is confident that he will maintain the place as he seeks to play competitive hockey at the University and join some of the local teams.
“I have been active locally, attending 99% of every hockey activity as far as playing games, attending coaching clinics. We have friendly games every Thursday night and some coaching clinics for the younger generation on
Saturday mornings at the UB courts,” the Basil Hockey Club player said.
Although his overseas move is academically influenced, the hard hitting play is hopeful that it will help elevate his career and has hit two birds with one stone. “Going overseas is going to help me broaden my experience and knowledge on the sport outside Africa as there are different ways to learn and play the sport.”
He believes it will be beneficial not only for him but for the growth of sports in the country. He states that he will have to do his research on the teams there.
What will be critical for him is maintaining his national team place while he is still settling abroad. “We are to compete at the hockey 5s World Cup Qualifiers at the end of this year, of which I'm not sure I will attend. I will have to put in twice as much effort in order to be called back to represent my country,” he stressed.
Furthermore, the player is aware of the challenges that might come along the way and he will not lose hope in anything that he wishes to achieve, be it playing for the national team in hockey at high levels of hockey or having big dreams.
“As a person you have to build up bit by bit patiently on where you are as things will unfold eventually and always involve the mighty Lord above because it is through Him that we achieve our goals and dreams.”
Hockey in Philippines is an emerging sport, the country hosted ice hockey competition at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games held at the SM Mall of Asia Skating Rink in Pasay.
