One of KZN’s leading lights in schoolgirls’ hockey, Kiana Cormack who is a midfielder and captain of St Mary’s D.S.G. First Hockey XI, and also currently plays for the Namibian Women’s Hockey team, will have the honour of leading her team, the overall defending champs of the last year’s SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, as they set their goals on retaining the title for this year’s Grand Finals on July 20 and 21.
The 17-year old, Grade 12 learner, has already notched a number of major accolades on her belt: in 2016 she has played with the U21 Namibian National Women’s team and in 2018 in the Namibian U18 Junior Olympics Fives Team in 2018, where they came eighth. This year the Namibian Women’s team competed in an outdoor test series against Zambia, where Kiana received the top goal scorer award and they played in an International Federation of Hockey (FIH) series in Spain against Canada, Spain, Belarus and Thailand.
Kiana was awarded school honours for both indoor and outdoor hockey, and has consistently held the honours as top goal scorer at the FIH (International Hockey Federation indoor World Cup Player of the tournament five years in a row at the PSI (Pro Series Indoor) series. In 2016 she also claimed the KZN U16 IPT Midfielder of the tournament.
Kiana clearly has a passion for the game, having started playing in Nambia, where she was born, when she was five years old. Pursuing her passion throughout school, she has been selected for the KZN provincial A teams in the U14, U16, U18 and U21 divisions.
Clearly hockey runs in her blood: her older sister Jerrica has played for Namibia for about 15 years and representing her country in an indoor world cup and various outdoor test series. Both her parents Trevor and Shayne Cormack play masters hockey, and coach various age groups for Namibia.
With hockey on her mind, Kiana is keen to follow her hockey passion after school in Germany or Netherlands. “I want to play hockey, and am keen to travel overseas to pursue my love of the game. It’s been a dream of mine to play at the highest level of hockey since I started playing.”
It’s the thrill of the team sport that drives this young hockey star. “It’s a very exciting game and I love playing in a team,” she enthuses. “Hockey makes me so happy and it is a family sport and I was brought up to love the game and have a true passion for it.”
“I have been lucky enough to have had many different coaches, who have all contributed to my hockey career. Some of the best advice I have been given has been – never have an excuse and to practice when no one is watching. They have also told me that if you aren’t scared of your dream then it’s not big enough.”
While, Kiana did not play in last year’s SPAR final tournament as she was away on another hockey tour, she has played in previous SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey finals, which, she says, “is so exciting and competitive. There is no maliciousness, just a good game of hockey and a great atmosphere.”
Kiana cites tennis star, Rodger Federer as her sporting hero as “he is humble no matter how many titles he owns.”
St Mary’s DSG joins nine other teams from KZN at the Grand finals including Kokstad College, Epworth School, Crawford La Lucia, Durban Girls’ College, Amanzimtoti High School, Ferrum High School, Wartburg Kirchdorf School, St Anne’s Diocesan College and Felixton.
For more info like the tournament’s Facebook page or follow on Instagram.
Interview With Kiana Cormack From St Mary’s DSG
