The Investec South Africa women’s hockey team have been given what could prove to be a major boost to their London 2012 Olympic dream by the announcement that Athens 2004 Olympian Liesel Dorothy (27) of Eastern Province has made herself available for national selection again after an absence of four years.
“I am excited about the dynamic environment and attacking style of play that head coach Giles Bonnet has brought to the national team as it suits my approach to the game,” said the attacking midfielder during the SA Women’s Interprovincial Hockey Tournament at University of Free State in Bloemfontein Friday.
“I never wanted to give up playing at international level but it became very difficult with my work and study commitments,” said the B. Comm. Accounting graduate from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University who is currently undergoing a management development programme at General Motors in Port Elizabeth.
SA convenor of selectors Mickey Gordon had a discussion with Dorothy earlier in the week concerning her availability for the national team and pointed a way forward for the 54-Test EP captain to play again.
“The ambition of the players and the team, supplemented by Giles Bonnet’s coaching acumen and the support of sponsors Investec makes this an exciting time to be part of the South African squad,” said Gordon, who added that it would be a case of managing Dorothy’s time so that both her work and service to the national team could be accommodated.
“We will manage her time away from work,” said Gordon, who is also the head marketing, sport and institutional advancement at UFS. “We want Liesel to succeed in her working environment and contribute to the SA team’s quest to play in the London 2012 Olympic Games. Having played at Athens 2004 at the age of 20, Liesel knows what is needed to play at the highest level and giving up her personal leave indicates her commitment to the SA team’s cause.”
Source: SA Hockey Media Release
