Player Profile – Kirsten Booysen (Oranje)
Kirsten Booysen can see the stick if she closes her eyes – a wooden Gunn and Moore with red and black stripes. She can describe it in detail. She was five years old when she received it from a hockey-playing cousin.
That wasn’t the only thing her cousin gave her. Her relative also helped young Kirsten to learn the basics in the backyard. The stick, the sparring in the garden, and the informal lessons; they all combined to flame the embers of her love for the game.
Elsie Coetzer, who has dedicated her post-playing career to teaching youngsters how to play, helped to nurture Booysen’s love for hockey with her Elsie Coetzer Hockey School (ECHS) programme.
“They introduced us to hockey in such a fun and engaging way, and we always looked forward to it,” Booysen recalled. “One of the best parts was getting Fizzers afterwards, which made those sessions even more memorable and special for me.”
Oranje has produced many high-achieving teams over the years, and watching them consistently do well gave Booysen a target to chase. She wanted to be a part of that band of athletes, a contributor to that legacy.
“I wanted to be part of something like that one day. As I started playing more, I fell in love with the fast pace, the adrenaline, and the excitement hockey brings. It never felt forced. It just became a part of who I am,” Booysen shared.
She didn’t only watch the Oranje first team. She watched every televised international match that did not clash with her academic commitments. The more hockey she viewed, the more her perspective expanded. That’s how she learned about Pien Sanders, the Dutch multiple Olympic gold medal winner.
“I love her composure, intelligence, and consistency as a defender. The way she stays calm under pressure and works hard for her team inspires me to become a stronger and more confident player,” Booysen revealed.
The Oranje learner channelled her inner Sanders through primary and secondary school. Those who have watched her play describe Booysen as a rock in defence.
Her technical ability, composure, and match awareness paved the way for her to achieve her ambition of playing for the Oranje first team as a Grade 9 learner.
“On defence, she is a rock. Very few players get past her, mainly because of her excellent positioning and ability to read the game early,” Morné Odendaal, the Oranje head coach, commented.
“She is especially strong in short-corner defence and deep defensive situations, where she organises the players around her and helps everyone contribute positively.”
Booysen put those outstanding qualities in short corner defence on show in May at the St Mary’s Waverley Festival.
She pulled off a match-defining goal-line save to deny Die Hoërskool Menlopark a goal in the final. That stop denied the Pretoria side a foothold in the contest and helped Oranje to secure victory.
Booysen rates her performance in that final as her best for the first team. It also helped her realise one of her dreams.
“My fondest memory playing for Oranje was winning the St Mary’s Waverley Festival for the first time in my years of playing for the first team. It was a very special moment for our team, and something I will always remember with pride,” Booysen shared.
She had previously been a member of three Oranje teams that were unable to claim the prestigious title, which made the win that much sweeter.
“I think what makes this year’s team special is that everyone genuinely wants the best for each other, and there’s a lot of trust within the group. We’ve celebrated big wins, learned from tough moments, and grown a lot, both as individuals and as a team. The relationships we’ve built off the field are reflected in the way we perform on it,” Booysen said.
Winning the St Mary’s Waverley title was the start of a fruitful year for Booysen and her teammates. They have since added the All Girls Festival and St Anne’s Cup winners’ medals to their collection.
Lying ahead on her fixture list is the SASHOC u18 InterProvincial Tournament (IPT), where she will attempt to help Southern Free State claim the title, then the Fairtree Super 12, which brings together the country’s leading teams at Oranje.
Describing Booysen, Oranje coach Morné Odendaal said: “She is an outstanding defender, and always puts the team first.
“Loyal, selfless, and composed under pressure, she brings calmness and control to the backline.
“On the ball, she has time and composure.
“Her outletting skills are a major strength. She can connect over lines, identify space, and deliver passes that allow receivers to play forward without pressure.”
When asked how she maintains her calm demeanour on the field, Booysen revealed that she sticks to simple decisions instead of overthinking. She also stays focused on her positioning and communication with teammates. Maintaining those fundamentals gives her structure and confidence.
“The more I stay present in the game and trust my training, the calmer I feel in high-pressure moments,” she explained.
When it came to the topic of lessons learned from playing hockey, Booysen provided a thoughtful answer: “Hockey has taught me discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
“I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from individual effort alone, but from trusting and working with my teammates. Most importantly, I’ve learned that mistakes are part of growth. What matters is how you respond and improve from them.”
If she continues on her current trajectory, Booysen is on track to earn her second national call-up after SASHOC National Week. Last year, she was included in the national u17 team that competed at the Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia, a tournament she credits for helping her grow as a player and for giving her a better understanding of the game.
