Matt Dewar will be a medical doctor four years from now, but before he seriously starts to treat patients, the Tuks student has some unfinished business to settle on the Astroturf.

For now, it is to help Tuks win the USSA Hockey Tournament at Wits. Afterwards, he will be playing for the South African under-21 team. His long term goal is to play for the Proteas at the Olympic Games or the World Hockey World Cup. 

Dewar admits studying to be a doctor and playing hockey can be challenging, but he does not mind.

"It is about finding a balance between sport and your studies. The plan is to play as much hockey as I can while working hard on my studies simultaneously. I need to do both. Hockey helps me become a better student while my studies enable me to be more focused on the Astroturf." 

It is no surprise that Dewar is passionate about hockey. When he was still a 'laaitie', he was on the sidelines watching his dad, Andrew, play hockey. In the end, dad's heroics convinced him to also take up a 'stick' and chase after hockey balls as well. 

"What I like about hockey is that it is such a fast and intense game that requires much conditioning. You also need particular skills to do what needs to be done to win games. I enjoy playing for different teams learning new things from different coaches."

Playing as a midfielder, Dewar considers his best attributes as being a team player and a good communicator. To him, it will always be about giving 100%. It does not matter whether it is during training or a game.

Therefore it is no surprise that he considers the former Australian hockey captain, Mark Knowles, as a role model. 

"I try and compare myself as to how he played hockey and conducted himself on and off the field because I think I am in a very similar position as to where he was when he started out.

"I am also a big admirer of Roger Federer just for the way he conducted himself on and off the court. Despite all he had achieved, he remains humble. I will also always be grateful to my dad for his guidance. Often he is the one who encourages me to work harder."

According to Dewar, the past two years have not been easy because of the Covid Pandemic. 

"We did not get to play as often as we would have liked. But all credit to our coach Sigz Ntuli who has continuously worked on finding ways to make our training exciting and keep us motivated."

Ntuli must have done something right as nine of the Tuks players have been selected to play for the South African under-21 team during the interprovincial tournament in Cape Town. While Sam Mvimbi represented South Africa at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

Tuks's first game on Thursday at Wits is against Maties.