Player Profile – Mia Perold (Waterkloof)
Mia Perold understands that low morale impedes good performances. So, the Hoërskool Waterkloof captain takes it upon herself to lift her teammates’ spirits on and off the field.
Those efforts have earned her a moniker that matches her energy, DJ Mia.
“Mia is really a vibe, fun to be around, and creates buy-in from the players,” Jonathan Lottering, the Waterkloof biokineticist, shared.
“The girls naturally connect with her because she brings energy, positivity, and togetherness to the team environment.”
Perold is, however, more than just a morale booster. The Waterkloof skipper, who has close to 100 first-team caps to her name, is also a matchwinner and calming influence at the back in pressure situations.
“As simple as it sounds, I just slow everything down and control my own pace,” Perold told SuperSport Schools News.
“One of my previous coaches was the first person to introduce me to the slogan ‘Pressure is a privilege’, and it really stuck with me. Every time my heart starts beating out of my chest, I remind myself that I can do only two things: my best, and enjoy it.”
The teenager’s hockey journey began after her sister gifted her an old Grays stick and asked her to play with her in the backyard. Perold resisted at first because she struggled with handling the stick. However, she fell in love with the sport once she got the hang of it.
She observed and imitated her older sister, who was her first role model. With better skill acquisition came the drive to establish herself as a player who was independent from her sister. That is when she “discovered” Chad Futcher.
“I distinctly remember in my first few years of indoor hockey training, he taught us to drag flick and left such an impact on my younger self that I wanted to not only play but also be just like him,” Perold revealed.
She built her game around the basics she learned in her early years and added more pieces as she progressed through the age groups. But it wasn’t just Perold’s technical ability that drove Omari Pienaar-Geyer, the Waterkloof coach, to give Perold a first-team debut in 2025. The player’s willingness to take responsibility when it mattered the most also played a significant role.
“Her growth has been remarkable. She has developed from a promising player into a captain who balances tactical sharpness, emotional resilience, and leadership,” Pienaar-Geyer explained.
Perold leads from the front, the Klofies‘ coach said. There was no better example of that than at the 2025 SASHOC u18 Girls IPT.
Perold was one of the shining lights in Northerns u18B’s battle for survival in the A Section. She was a force in the backline, executing the team’s plan and taking control of the defence.
“For me personally, my best performance outside of school was the 2025 IPT, alongside two other Waterkloof girls. We fought tooth and nail to stay in the A section. I played some of my best hockey at that tournament,” Perold shared.
When asked about her finest performances for Waterkloof, both coach and student pointed to the Belgotex Sport Girls Challenge Cup, which Waterkloof won at the beginning of May against a high-quality field.
All of Perold’s best qualities were on display in the final against Collegiate Girls’ High. She was a strong defensive presence, playing with patience and confidence, and making sound decisions.
She was, undoubtedly, one of the primary reasons why Waterkloof clinched the title.
“Holding the Girls Challenge Cup trophy after an intense final against Collegiate, and being the captain of my team, was such an honour,” she reflected.
Despite all the praise heaped upon her after her side had claimed the prestigious title, Perold acknowledged that hockey was a team sport, insisting that she was able to do what she did in those matches only because of her teammates.
“I have a lot of gratitude for my teammates who also play a big role in the overall mindset of the team and in keeping everyone motivated,” Perold explained.
Her biggest wish is to keep contributing to the team with her skills on the field and with her infectious character off it. DJ Mia will continue to uplift the team spirit and help her teammates maintain high energy levels.
Hockey, after all, is bigger than the result. “Hockey isn’t just always about the sport. I’ve made some of the best memories with teammates who became my best friends in life,” she said.
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