Player Profile – Annika Kloppers (Menlopark)
Eustress. That is the word Annika Kloppers mutters to herself when she takes her place in goal at the start of a hockey game.
She repeats it, under her breath, in high-pressure moments.
The term, which was introduced by endocrinologist Hans Selye in 1976, is Kloppers’ mantra.
“It’s the opposite of distress and serves as a reminder of a quote I once read: ‘The true sportsperson looks for difficult and challenging situations’.
“It reminds me that I should be more eager to play well than scared to make a mistake. If I do make a mistake, I tell myself what I could do better once and then put it out of my mind,” Kloppers shared with SuperSport Schools Plus.
The Menlopark goalkeeper has always embodied that mindset, even before she was aware of the existence of eustress. She became a ‘keeper because her primary school needed one, and no one was stepping forward to take on the role. Everyone else wanted to be an infield player.
Kloppers and her pink Grays’ hockey stick made goalkeeping look cool, however, and soon others wanted to take a turn between the sticks. However, they were too late. Kloppers was enjoying her new role so much that she didn’t want to relinquish it.
Her primary school coaches didn’t let her keep the position just because of her enthusiasm. They also saw potential; Kloppers’ reflexes and anticipation were second to none. She was also dedicated.
“Annika is extremely humble despite being so talented. She never stops working, and her willingness to learn is her best quality. She has two goalkeeper coaches, Gert Fourie and Shaun Laubscher, with whom Annika attends multiple sessions on top of school and club training,” Brad Brook, Kloppers’ coach at Menlopark, told SuperSport Schools.
During her time at the Pretoria school, he has watched Kloppers develop into one of the best ‘keepers in the country. The 18-year-old, who has made 55 appearances for Menlopark, is also the team’s vice-captain and one of the reasons behind the school’s rise as one of the top hockey-playing schools in South Africa.
“She had grown so much as a player and leader over the past two years, which is attributed to her desire to win games for her team,” Brook declared.
Kloppers is reserved and soft-spoken off the field. However, her duties as the last line of defence require her to be vocal and assertive. She has worked on that part of her game and is now an imposing figure at the back, where she uses her hockey IQ to organise the defence.
Brook identified 10 core attributes goalkeepers need: explosive reflexes, positioning and angle control, fast decision-making under pressure, controlled bravery, footwork and agility, communication, technique (kicks, blocks, slides), mental toughness, game IQ and anticipation, and fitness and durability. Kloppers ticks all those boxes.
“Our field players have a sense of calm, knowing Annika is behind them, and it allows them to play with a little more freedom,” the coach said.
Kloppers gave the world a glimpse into her abilities when Menlopark finished third in the u16 section of the 2024 Fairtree Super 12 Tournament. More recently, she pulled off some world-class saves in Menlopark’s campaign at the 2026 St Mary’s Waverley Hockey Festival, where they finished as the runner-up.
“One of her best performances that comes to mind would be the semifinal at St Mary’s Waverley against St Mary’s DSG Kloof. Annika was perfect from the start of regular time to the final eight seconds,” Brook recalled.
The match finished 0-0. Menlopark won through to the final, though, thanks to Kloppers’ performance in the penalty shootout. She cited that as one of her top two performances.
“My most memorable performances are beating St. Mary’s Kloof in shootouts at the semifinal of St. Mary’s Waverley Festival earlier this year and winning the [indoor hockey] Roku Cup in a shootout after chasing the game last year,” she shared.
Her consistency and brilliance have also brought her higher honours. She was a member of the Northerns‘ u16B team that finished third at the 2024 SASHOC u16 IPT. The following year, Kloppers represented the Northerns‘ u18B side, and her outstanding performances earned her a call-up to the national u17 squad.
Kloppers identified Malikah Hamza and Morgan de Jager as her goalkeeping role models, stressing Hamza’s humility and love for the game as one of her biggest drivers.
“Her humility and love for hockey stretch further than big matches and her skill level. Hamza’s character reflects what the sport is about for me. Morgan de Jager has agility and decision-making skills as a keeper that are inspiring beyond compare, and I strive to be more like her,” Kloppers said.
The Menlopark netminder is determined to follow in her icons’ footsteps. In the meantime, she is keeping her feet firmly on the ground, ready to do whatever is necessary to help her team win matches. And before each assignment, she recites the word that helps her focus: eustress.
