To defend a title is the ultimate for any team, but due to the international coronavirus pandemic, there is no guarantee that the Tuks men's hockey team will get to do so.
2018 will always be remembered as the Tuks men's big breakthrough as they won the Varsity Tournament for the first time. The head coach, Sigz Ntuli and his "boys" were all set to prove from next month that it was no fluke.
The reality, however, is that it is not sure whether the tournament will still be played and if so when.
Ntuli has never been one to leave anything to chance. If there is going to be an opportunity to defend the Varsity title, he wants his players to "hit the ground running".
He got Justin Swan, the team's strength and conditioning coach, to work out a program which would enable the players to stay active while they are at home.
Ntuli is also a firm believer in learning from one's mistakes. For this reason, it is expected from every player to watch videos of past games.
"Once a week, we have a virtual team talk to discuss the games watched. When it is one of our games, I expect the players to know what mistakes were made and how it could have been prevented. It is crucial to get the players to keep on thinking about the game. That is why I also get them to watch international games. It is exciting when a player comes up with a new strategy, which we end up discussing.
"A definite positive we can take from our virtual meetings is that it enhances a sense of camaraderie amongst the players. In these uncertain times, it is crucial.
The Tuks coach admits missing being out on the Astroturf helping players to master the finer intricacies of the game.
"It, however, does not help to wonder what could have been. In a way, this time is a blessing in disguise. Usually, all of us who are actively involved in competitive sport don't get to spend enough quality time with loved ones. So I encourage the players to make the most of it. Once we are back playing, we are going to miss some of these moments."
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