Abigail Holderness aims to inspire DSG Makhanda to more glory in 2025
After helping her side to some impressive results in 2024, DSG Makhanda star Abigail Holderness will be aiming to turn it up a notch when she captains her side in the 2025 hockey season.
Holderness, who made her first team debut for the school as a grade nine pupil in 2022, has been given the responsibility to lead the team next year by head coach Geowynne Gamiet.
Apart from her leadership duties on the field, Holderness will also assume the responsibility of being the Head Day Girl and will be involved in the Sports Prefects Portfolio.
All of this comes after a stellar season during which she shone for her school and the provincial team at the annual SASHOC National Week in Bloemfontein in June. She played a pivotal role in several matches, found the back of the net regularly, played alongside her sister, Lucy, and was included in the SA Schools’ u17 squad to top off a season to remember.
Speaking to SuperSport Schools Plus, she reflected on the year that was for the DSG first side. “It was a really good season. It had its ups and downs, but I enjoyed it,” said Holderness.
“We played some of our best hockey. I do think we were unfortunate in many matches when we didn’t take our chances, but all in all, I think we did well, and I’m happy with how it went.”
The 17-year-old started playing hockey outside her home at the age of four, trying things out with a stick and ball. Growing up, she attended Junior Prep when she was of pre-primary age. Then, in grade four, she moved to DSG.
“I made my first team debut after the Covid-19 pandemic died down a bit, and it was very difficult,” Holderness said.
“It had always been a dream for me to play for DSG. I remember when I was young in Junior Prep, I used to look up to the first team girls, and I would always watch their matches sitting on the benches.
“After my first game, I never looked back, and I’ve been very happy representing my school, and helping my team in every way I can.”
In June, she represented the Eastern Province u18A side at the SASHOC National Week. Afterwards, she was named in the SA Schools’ u17 side.
Previously, Holderness had represented the province at inter-provincial tournaments in 2022 and 2023, during which time she made the SA Schools’ u16A side.
Coming from a small town like Makhanda has its challenges for hockey players. “I’ve had my ups and downs, I’ve had many challenges, and I have to remind myself all the time that great things take time – that’s a quote I reflect on,” Holderness said.
“It hasn’t always been easy. It’s been pretty difficult sometimes, but I love the journey and process of working hard to achieve my goals.
“In Makhanda, we don’t always have a lot of opportunities, and sometimes it’s a struggle to find places to play, and people to train with if, you want to get better. Many times I’ve had to work a lot on my own, and do my training with my sister and dad.”
Despite those challenges, Holderness has excelled and separated herself from the pack. Since her debut, she’s scored 82 goals for the first team, and 42 of those came this season, during which she also inspired her side to the Spar Hockey Challenge title in July.
She has also enjoyed playing in the same team with her sister, Lucy, and Abigail believes it helps to have a family member to lift her when things aren’t going her way.
Casting an eye towards next season, Holderness said she wants to lead her team honourably and to continue to contribute as much as she can.
“I have been given the opportunity to captain my team next year, and I’m looking forward to playing with my sister again, having a new team, and new goals.”
“It’s sort of a fresh start to make the most of everything. I’ve got my personal goals that I would like to achieve, but the main thing is to go out there, have fun, enjoy my matric year, help the team, and put DSG on the map,” she concluded.
