Hockey can Tokyo places – just ask Sam

KNYSNA HOCKEY NEWS - Rising hockey star and Knysna native Samkelo (Sam) Mvimbi has been named in the 41-man training squad for the SA Senior Men's Hockey team for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, subsequently setting one foot in Tokyo with the other still back home.

Mvimbi first appeared in a South African jersey on a hockey field two years ago when he played for the SA U18 team where he would have undoubtedly turned many heads, and possibly cemented himself in the future of the country's national hockey structures. He then matriculated from Oakhill School that year, and left for the University of Pretoria where he has been playing for the Tuks 1 Hockey team, continuously proving himself on the field.

Mvimbi, who plays as a link, was absent from a national team until midway through this year, when he was selected as part of the senior men's squad for a three-match test series against Namibia in May. He made his debut in the first test, and would go on to play in the second and third tests, putting in good shifts on the field on all three occasions.

He would then turn his focus to preparations for the SA Men's Inter-provincial Tournament (IPT) where he represented Northern Gauteng, impressing selectors and scouts so much so that he earned himself a call-up to the senior men's training squad starting preparations for next year's summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Sam Mvimbi powers forward for the South African Senior Men's team.

Ironically, Mvimbi only found out about the news via social media, just like everyone else. "Just before the squad announcement was made on Facebook, I was added to a WhatsApp group for the training squad where the announcement was made to us," he said with a bit of a chuckle in an interview with Knysna-Plett Herald. Even though he has already represented his country before, he still regards this as a major "dream come true" and believes he has what it takes to make it to Japan. "I would like to think I can do it, and make it to the Olympics."

But he concedes there's a lot of work to do. "We have quite a few camps coming up in the off-season, and I am going to have to work really hard," the youngster said.

Mvimbi is also appreciative of the support he has received from back home. "I've received so many messages of support from people all over the Garden Route, some who I don't even know. I really would like to say thank you to the people on the Garden Route and from Knysna, you guys have been absolutely amazing."

Sam Mvimbi looks up for a pass.