Leah Welcome (14), a Grade 8 learner from Westering High School hopes to encourage more of the youth to give back where they can.
Leah Welcome (14), a Grade 8 learner from Westering High School hopes to encourage more of the youth to give back where they can. Credit: Supplied

Leah Welcome (14), a promising young hockey player, was recently named the brand ambassador for South African Children and Youth Ambassadors, making her the first Eastern Cape recipient of this award, while also making the Eastern Province Hockey A-team for the second year.

Speaking to PE Express, she said that she hopes to be an inspiration to the youth who come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Leah said, “Many children my age want to reach their full potential in life, especially those playing hockey. Their dream is to one day play at a provincial level and sometimes, their dreams go unachieved, as most do not have the funds to compete at a high level. Sometimes, you have to pay a fortune to keep your place in your team, which is rather unfair, because they will never really know how good they are or if they are good enough to play provincial hockey.”

She added that she is grateful to be able to play provincial hockey. “I pushed myself many times, and my coaches especially. They push me to be the best version of myself, on and off the field, and I am grateful I can make an impact on others to pursue their dreams as well. I am also excited about this Eastern Province selection as it is my second year. Once a player is chosen three times, then they qualify to play on a national level, which is my dream.”

Leah Welcome (14) was chosen for the Provincial hockey team for the second consecutive year.
Leah Welcome (14) was chosen for the Provincial hockey team for the second consecutive year. Credit: Supplied

Reminiscing about when her journey started, Leah said, “The first year I made provincial hockey, it became clearer to me that this is my dream. I heard that I can finally qualify to be a national player after my third provincial selection and I thought that it would really be good for me, as an individual, but also for the other children, for them to know that it is possible to achieve this milestone, especially in the Northern areas where I come from. I want to be their role model in the future.”

Leah said, “My journey at St Peter’s Hockey Club has been great. It is not just a hockey club, but my family as well. They pushed me the most and helped me reach my full potential. We at St Peter’s want to help those who show potential and give them a chance at being great. We seek more people who show promise to apply for the club to see what fun it is and learn how to play well in a team.”

Leah aims to help those who come from underprivileged areas by seeking hockey gear donations for them. “I believe that the Northern area kids need to experience how it feels to not be hindered in reaching their hockey dreams. I just want to see how happy they get when they receive this donation, because it can really help those who are good at hockey but can’t afford to. Donations can come in the form of any hockey gear, like sticks, shin guards, and hockey shoes.”

For more information or to donate, contact Leah’s mother, Stacey, via email at [email protected].

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