Five years ago, Marsha Cox stood on the gsport Awards stage and announced her retirement from international hockey, as she accepted the Special Recognition award for her outstanding contribution to hockey.
An emotional Cox spoke passionately as she told the gsport Awards audience how she planned to continue to impact the game.
Now an athletes’ representative with the IOC steering committee, and still a competitive player in the Netherlands, the iconic former skipper of the South African Women’s hockey team is doing her part to invest in future hockey players.
Cox has been developing her skills away from the field as she looks to use her experience to inspire the next generation.
She is currently in isolation at home due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and has taken the time to bond with her family.
“Firstly, I got a little four-year-old, so I’m forced to be very creative,” Cox told the gsport Team as she chats from her home Netherlands.
“Some of the things that I have taken more time for are cooking and baking. I really enjoy baking and now that I have more time and a little helper, I am trying out more recipes.”
“Besides playing, I am also involved as an athlete’s representative on the IOC’s steering committee, which is also a fantastic opportunity.” – Former South African Women’s Hockey captain, Marsha Cox
Apart from being creative in the kitchen, Cox is still showing off her skills on the hockey field.
“I play competitively in the Netherlands and it has been fantastic to be part of a team that has an extreme desire to win and are extremely competitive.
“Hopefully at the end of this season we will get promotion into the Premier League, but we are waiting as things have been put on hold.
“Besides playing, I am also involved as an athlete’s representative on the IOC’s steering committee, which is also a fantastic opportunity.
“I’ve enjoyed working on this committee for the last few years. The exposure that I’ve had to phenomenal athletes and athlete’s representatives alike has been an experience that I believe has added so much value to my development.”
She also serves as a consultant for the African hockey athlete’s committee where she ties up her experience from the FIH committee and the IOC steering committee to help contribute to African hockey.
“The project is not only about development in the sport and giving kids an opportunity but it’s about giving kids the opportunity to learn life skills.” – Cox speaking on her project in South Africa
“I have a project in South Africa that I am currently working on.
“It started two years ago and it’s about integration in sport, using hockey as the platform of integrating our communities.
“The project is not only about development in the sport and giving kids an opportunity but it’s about giving kids the opportunity to learn life skills that sports can bring and add value to your life.”
Cox feels that the current state of South African women’s hockey gives her hope of a bright future.
“I believe that we have a very promising future ahead of us.
“I think that it is an absolutely amazing opportunity to get into the Olympics and I hope that we are able to utilise that.
“I am extremely excited as we will host the next Junior World Cup. It’s phenomenal and I know that we have a rich pool of talent coming through so I hope that they will utilise this opportunity.”
She continues to talk about playing her first cap for South Africa and reaching her 50th milestone and more! Check out the full video in the slider above.
Photo 1 Caption: Now an athletes’ representative with the IOC steering committee, and still a competitive player in the Netherlands, the iconic former skipper of the South African Women’s hockey team, Marsha Cox, is doing her part to invest in future hockey players. Photo: Supplied
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