SA hockey legend Phumelela Hlophe is keen to give players a voice following her new role as interim Athletes Commission Executive of the SA Hockey Association Board, a full-circle moment for the chartered accountant and two-time mom who has roots as a staunch proponent of player rights when she was captain/keeper of the national team.
In an exclusive interview this week, Hlophe told gsport that being able to give players a voice is something she is looking forward to doing.
“I was hesitant at first because I was sort of involved in this role as a player, a part of the negative experience while playing was that I had this responsibility on my shoulders. Now I feel like my intentions cannot be misconstrued and I want to relieve the burden of the players that are still there.
“I think about our teams at the Olympics but I also think about the club players, that are in Border or Limpopo, at the school level.”
Phumelela Hlophe – Interim Executive Committee Member, Hockey SA Athletes Commission
“The point is my role is not for the main teams or the national teams,” says Hlophe, “It’s for all players because I have been a player, and I have been a player that needed a voice, and I am excited about this!”
Hlophe is already hard at work brainstorming what she would like to see happen with SA hockey, and she feels she knows just what change she wants to see.
“I would like SA Hockey to establish a functioning athletes commission. It’s a gripe that I had with our federation when I was an athlete, that we have a position on the board but it’s not filled by an exec. I think in the last cycle Owen (Mvimbi) filled the position, but even, then it wasn’t a functioning position, and there wasn’t an actual commission that elected that board member that ends up on that exec position.”
“I would like to ensure that we establish an athletes commission that is then a proper liaison between the athletes and SA Hockey, to execute in terms of reference that South African hockey has with regards to the commission.”
“I think because my position is interim, I can’t speculate much beyond that. The primary goal is that we establish a functioning commission that can assist players as and when necessary.”
The hockey stalwart is among the most well-known women figures of the South African game, and it’s encouraging that she has been afforded this role. Hlophe has been inspiring current and future generations, and as she became an important cog in the national team, she was elevated to captain for her tenacity and grit.
She feels that having had leadership positions in various teams provided her with some first-hand experience, as to what current players might be facing.
“I was quite a vocal player, I don’t want to say that I was an activist, because my primary role was to play hockey and to do my best on the field. The role that I played as the team captain in the national team, and also in the provincial team and being involved in club teams, I am very familiar with the struggles that players have, I know how uncomfortable things can be if you want to voice something.”
“You are always concerned about what that looks like for you as a player, like your intentions being questioned,” continued Hlophe. “I feel like I am equipped to take on the role. I have been part of SASCOC’s Athlete Commission, I have seen current and former athletes, like myself, and I have had enough involvement in these types of spaces to feel like I am confident that I can assist in the time that I am on the committee.”
Like many current and former sportswomen Hlophe is balancing being a mom as well as her full-time career as an auditor. She recently had a second child, and is currently on maternity leave.
Many of her former teammates are in Paris for the 2024 Olympics, where it was announced that there would be a nursery for athletes who are parents. Hlophe says when he heard about this initiative, it gave her goosebumps.
“One of the reasons I made the call (to retire) was because I just couldn’t bear to leave my child, I needed to focus on raising my baby more than anything. I think the fact that mothers have the opportunity to do that, not only is great for their performance and being at ease, but also for their mental health, and their comfort.
“From a nurturing perspective, being at ease having that lactation space and not feeling like you are overburdening your teammates because you have a child in the team space, it’s beyond amazing.”
Speaking of her former teammates, the South African Women’s hockey team is days away from getting their 2024 Olympic campaign underway. This year will prove to be a tough draw as the South Africans are grouped with three-time Olympic gold medalist Australia, who they face first. They will also take on Argentina, Great Britain, Spain, and the United States when the competition begins on 28 July 2024.
“It’s a very mixed team there are some young players, and then you have the more experienced players like Erin (Christie) and Quanita (Bobbs), it’s a good mix and they can produce some really exciting results. The youngsters that come in, come in with a lot of flair, a lot of excitement, and a lot of what we were looking for as what I can refer to as ‘South African-style’ hockey.
“They are in an incredibly tough pool but I back the girls and the goalkeeper. Anelle (van Deventer) is a player that I played with many many years ago, and she is incredible, I have no doubt that they will push for the best and going to come out with some surprise results.”
Main Photo Caption: Phumelela Hlophe has had quite a storied hockey career and she is now hoping to do her part behind the scenes for the sport that she holds so dear. The former South African Women’s Hockey captain has been appointed to the Hockey South Africa executive in an interim role. Photos: Supplied
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