The UP-Tuks hockey players were really raking in the awards during the Northerns Blues Hockey Association year-end function.
Of the 31 awards, UP-Tuks received 12 proving as has become the norm over the years that the players, coaches and administrators were yet again all on top of their game.
Definite highlights for UP-Tuks was the men’s team winning the Varsity Tournament for the first time while the women’s side defended their USSA-title.
Justifiably Peabo Lembethe (UP-Tuks men’s captain) received the men’s player of the year award. He has been described by Guy Elliott his coach as not the flashiest player on the field but the day he is not playing is the day everyone realises what he brings to any team. He has just got such a fantastic work rate every time he takes to the field.
To top it all, he has got big match temperament. There are not many who believe a game can be still won while the clock is relentlessly ticking down the final seconds. But accepting defeat is not words that often occur in Lembethe’s vocabulary.
One of the most amazing moments in the history of Tuks hockey for a long time to come will be the “Lembethe’s magic” during this year’s Varsity men’s semi-final against Wits. With a mere 10 seconds left on the clock, Lembethe scored the equaliser which led to the game being decided by a penalty shootout. Tuks won to secure their place in the final and then went on to beat Maties.
Lembethe was deservedly selected to represent South Africa at the Hockey World Cup Tournament in India over December.
Phumelela Mbande is the women’s player of the year. She represented South Africa during the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games as a goalkeeper. Inky Zondi (UP-Tuks women’s coach) describes her as an asset to any team.
Megan Anderson who captained to UP-Tuks women’s team to winning the USSA Tournament received the junior women’s player of the year award.
Zondi is impressed with the way she took to be the leader of the field. He also describes her as tactically being one of the savviest players he ever coached, and she is apparently relentless when it comes to scoring goals.
Anderson certainly does not believe in limiting herself or the team.
“Our philosophy at Tuks will always be to go for gold. Nothing else matter. We would rather be disappointed in not winning a tournament than be happy with finishing third.”
Elliott who apart from the Varsity success has also coached the Northerns under-21 team to win the provincial tournament is the coach of the year.
He admits to having grown as a coach over the years.
“I still feel very strongly about discipline and proper planning, but I changed the way I think about the game. My game plan is now more adventurous and at times can even be risky.”
UP-Tuks Team Awards
• Ladies Premier League Winners- TUKS 1
• Men's Premier League Winners- TUKS 1
• Masters Knockout League Winners- TUKS
• 3rd Ladies League Winners- TUKS Youth Stripe
• 2nd Ladies League Winners- TUKS 4
• Women's Reserve League Winners- TUKS 2
UP-Tuks Individual Awards
• Men's Player of the Year- Peabo Lembethe
• Linda Dlamini Hockey Personality- Steven Paulo
• Manager of the Year- Kgothatso Maboea
• Coach of the Year- Guy Elliot
• Junior Ladies Player- Megan Anderson
• Junior Men's Player- Sizwe Mtembu
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