Former South Africa Women’s Hockey captain Bernadette Coston has announced her retirement from international hockey on Friday, 3 March 2023.
In September 2011, Coston made her debut for South Africa against Kenya in Zimbabwe. She then went on to represent the country at the 2012 Olympic Games in London and featured in two FIH Hockey World Cups and Two Commonwealth Games.
She was also part of the team that won gold medals at the African Cup of Nations in Nairobi in 2013 and Ghana in 2022.
Donning the number 23 jersey, Coston played 169 caps in total for the country.
In a statement by the South African Hockey Association, the 33-year-old said: “It has taken me a long time to make this decision and it has been one of the hardest ones I have had to make to date. As always, my head and my heart didn’t agree, and I had multiple conversations and emails to fellow friends and players and non-players in order to make this decision.”
She added: “I have had the most incredible career as player #23 and I will forever cherish the memories made and the lessons learnt.”
SA Hockey interim CEO Shaune Baaitjies concluded: “Bernie was an incredibly hard-working individual. She managed to balance her professional career and her hockey career outstandingly to the benefit of the entire South African Hockey Family. We would like to thank Bernie for her superb contribution to South African Hockey and we wish you all the best in your retirement!”
Photo 1 Caption: Former South Africa Women’s Hockey Captain Bernadette Coston has announced her retirement from international hockey after playing 169 test caps for the country. Photo: Bernadette Coston (Instagram)
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