Player Profile: Reuben Sendzul
Paul Roos Gimnasium is renowned for its exceptional rugby programme, world-class facilities, and its legacy of producing quality players that have earned them the reputation of being one of the “Springbok factories”.
However, in recent years, the school’s hockey programme has flourished, going from strength to strength.
A player who has contributed to that growth is the current first team captain, Reuben Sendzul.
Sendzul, who has an unwavering passion for the game, and is a “hockey nerd”, has caught the attention of many hockey enthusiasts around the country and has established himself as one of the most exciting young players to watch on the turf.
Ahead of representing the Boland u18A team at the SASHOC National Week, he sat down with SuperSport Schools Plus hockey writer Avuyile Sawula for an exclusive interview.
In it, he spoke about where his love for hockey began, his achievements on the turf, his team’s objectives, and personal goals for the 2024 season and beyond.
From Bridge House to PRG
Many might look at Reuben Sendzul and think he’s a player who’s had everything gifted to him from a young age. That’s not the case.
Hailing from a grounded and humble family, Sendzul was taught to be disciplined, committed, and to work hard for everything he wanted on and off the turf.
His hockey career began at the tender age of six years old, and he was inspired his father, Jonathan, and his older brothers, Samuel and Adam.
The trio’s influence led to Reuben falling in love with the game and he took it up when he arrived at Bridge House School.
“My older brother, middle brother, and dad played hockey, so it’s been running through the family,” Reuben said.
“I think I’ve always just had a special love for the game from a young age. I started at the age of six and played centre back. I used to be a sweeper/keeper.
“I then started playing up front in u11 and u12, and I played up front all the way through, until I represented Boland in the u13A team.
“I have to give credit to Dane Henagan and Allan Wells, who saw something in me at Bridge House, and gave me an opportunity.”
During his time at the Franschhoek school, Sendzul and his parents often talked with Ashlin Freddy, who was the Director of Hockey at Paul Roos about a move to the Stellenbosch school for high school. However, his plans changed in 2020.
“In grade 8, I was supposed to go to Paul Roos, but then Covid-19 hit,” said the skipper.
“My parents decided I should just stay at Bridge House for grades 8 and 9.
“I was in constant chats with coach Freddy at that time, and we said we’d give it a try in grade 10, and that’s when my move happened.”
“PRG changed my game”
When Sendzul arrived at Paul Roos in January 2022, much was expected from him.
However, he had to adjust from life at Bridge House to life at one of South Africa’s most respected sporting schools and show those who might have doubted him that he had what it takes.
He emphatically answered any questions some may have had. He slotted smoothly into the senior side and was part of a team that pulled off a memorable 3-0 win over Grey College in their match of the year.
That year, Sendzul also donned the black and yellow of Boland, playing in the u16A side that finished in fourth place at the inter-provincial tournament in Stellenbosch while also winning two accolades: Top Goal Scorer and the Player of the tournament.
People sat up and took notice and he soon made his debut for the Central Hockey Club.
He believes that without the structures, and professionalism at PRG, all those achievements, which happened within the space of 12 months wouldn’t have been possible.
“Definitely! Going to PRG changed my game,” he said confidently.
“With the world-class overall facilities, the programme, the gym incorporation, and with as many training sessions as we had every week, it just grew my game.
“We (my family) always thought I had something special, but we never thought I could break through the system, and I did because of what Paul Roos offered me.
“It’s such a professional set-up (gym sessions, training sessions, video sessions). There is a no-nonsense policy. If you want to play at the highest level, you’ve got to make that mental switch.”
Growth and seizing opportunities
After a splendid grade 10 year in the PRG, Boland, and Central Hockey Club colours, Sendzul set his sights on adding to his achievements the following year.
He was a regular in the PRG side, but he was also chasing South African colours.
He passed the first hurdle when he was selected for the Boland u18A side, which finished in fourth place at last year’s SASHOC National Week.
His performances at the week in Bloemfontein and his in-season performances resulted in Sendzul earning himself a spot in the SA u18A side, alongside his Paul Roos captain, Zeke Hougaard.
They were the only Boland representatives in the South African u18 team that faced the national u21 side in the SA Youth Challenge.
The senior side secured 2-0 and 5-1 wins, but the youngsters gained important exposure and experience.
“Last year in Bloem, I think it was a tough one for us as Boland. We had a couple of injuries,” Sendzul said.
“I know the captain, Zeke (Hougaard), and I were injured, but we had to try and get the job done, and ending top four wasn’t that bad. But we always aim for a medal position.
“But from that, Zeke and I getting the opportunity to represent the SA u18 side and play against the u21s was special.”
Later in the year, Sendzul was called up to represent and captain South Africa at the u17 Dato Mirnawan Cup in Malaysia.
There, he and his peers were on song, and narrowly missed out on a gold medal, down 3-4 down against India in the final, in which he netted a hattrick. Sendzul scooped the Top Goal Scorer accolade, while SACS’s Litha Kraai was named the Player of the Tournament.
“It was my first time travelling abroad, and my first time representing South Africa on an international stage.
“It was nice to play with guys around me who have a common goal and are driven to achieve big things in the game.
“I won’t lie, it was tough against India, but we put ourselves on the map, and showcased our schools’ programme and how big it is. We almost took gold, and both individual prizes came back to South Africa, so, for us, that meant a great deal.”
Sendzul was far from done in terms of seizing opportunities and this year was included in the Western Province Men’s Indoor team for the Inter-Provincial Tournament, which was hosted in Cape Town.
There, he joined a formidable side which included the Cassiem brothers, Mustapha and Dayaan, Olympian and Bishops’ head coach, Ryan Julius, Zen Kraai, and Iddy Abdullah.
“Being given an opportunity like that from a young age allows you to learn from the best,” Sendzul said.
“They are such world-class players and make it an environment where it’s so safe for you, and you’re able to play like yourself.
“I took a lot from them, asked questions, and realised that it’s one of those environments where everyone plays for each other.
“Litha (Kraai) and I, being so young and playing in the team, has allowed us to take lessons, and not shy away from expressing ourselves.”
Adapting to Baker Ball and becoming mentality monsters
When the current Director of Hockey at Paul Roos, Michael Baker, arrived at the school, there was a buzz of enthusiasm and excitement, and the hope that he would continue to build on the good foundations laid by his predecessor.
Under Freddy, in 2023, PRG won the prestigious Hibbert Shield, and finished the year as one of the top teams in the country.
Baker arrived after having overseen a remarkable transformation of the hockey programme at DHS. His track record with the school and at producing KZN Coastal players spoke volumes about his coaching and leadership abilities.
To get the best out of Paul Roos, he had to employ similar tactics to the ones he did at DHS, and one of the cornerstones of his approach was to work on the culture of the school’s hockey players.
In the six months Baker has been on the job, he’s succeeded at that. Sendzul said he’s become more than just a hockey coach. He has helped him, and many other players, become better human beings on and off the turf.
“What comes with coach Baker is sort of a unique father figure,” Sendzul revealed. “He is very good with his player management, and he keeps the door open for conversations beyond hockey.
“I think a lot of the guys want to play for him and respect him, and they would die for him. He creates a special bond with the players and gets everyone to buy in. That’s why he’s called ‘Mister Culture’.
“He changes players’ lives, adds massive confidence to players, and has certainly had a massive impact on my game.”
Confidence is certainly visible in this year’s Paul Roos side, which has delivered some outstanding performances in high-pressure situations.
Sendzul and his team, in April and May, produced two massive season-defining performances in Gqeberha.
The first was in an inter-schools’ clash with Grey High, where they were 0-2 down for most of the match but rallied to score a come-from-behind 3-2 win.
A week later, at the same Astroturf, in the final of the Hibbert Shield against SACS, they clawed their back from a 0-3 deficit to level at 3-3 in regulation time, before going on to win 6-5 in a penalty shootout.
The PRG captain shared some of Baker’s ingredients, which have helped the mental makeup of the side.
“Before the pre-season, Coach Bakes took us up a mountain as a team and we slept on it. It was raining and guys were sleeping next to each other,” he said, with a laugh. “Stuff like that prepared us for the tough matches that were coming in the season.
“Against Grey, we were 0-2 down, and it was the last chukka, and I never thought of panicking. I thought all we needed was one chance, which would lead to the next, and that happened.
“In the SACS game, as well, they came out firing, and we were down 0-3 in the first 10 minutes.
“But, having come back against Grey, that was a mental positive for us, and we followed the game plan, and it was 3-3, and to win on a shootout was amazing.”
Looking ahead
Sendzul has aspirations of representing South Africa on the international stage but is not looking too far ahead.
He said his first challenge is to compete for top honours at the SASHOC National Week, and to secure SA Schools’ selection for a second year running.
After that, he’ll aim to close his final season at PRG in style before making his way out into the world and chasing his dream of representing South Africa.
He also wants to pursue a BCom degree in Economics, while playing hockey full-time.
“Yes, those are my goals but, obviously, I can’t be naive. I know it’s one step at a time,” he said.
“The upcoming SASHOC National Week is a massive step in my career because they select the u21 squad from it, and there are boxes I must tick before getting to the top.
“I want to take it one week at a time, and one step at a time, and, hopefully, when we speak again, I would’ve achieved some of the goals I’ve set for myself.”
Boland kicks off the SASHOC National Week on 16 June at 08:30. Stay tuned to SuperSport Schools for all the action.
BOLAND’S POOL FIXTURES
Sunday, 16 June
08:30 – Boland A vs Border
Monday, 17 June
13:00 – Boland A vs Western Province B
Tuesday, 18 June
09:55 – Boland A vs Western Province A
17:00 – Boland A vs Southern Gauteng B
Wednesday, 19 June
13:00 – Boland A vs KZN Coastal B
