{"id":53855,"date":"2024-07-31T12:02:05","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T10:02:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=53855"},"modified":"2024-07-31T12:02:05","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T10:02:05","slug":"player-profile-ld-nel-paarl-gimnasium","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/?p=53855","title":{"rendered":"Player profile: LD Nel (Paarl Gimnasium)"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"LD
LD Nel captained his side to glory at the 2024 Cape Town International Hockey Tournament. Photo: Lookonimages<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paarl Gimnasium<\/a><\/strong>‘<\/a>s first boys’ hockey team will set its sights on finishing the 2024 schoolboy hockey season on a high when they take on Paarl Boys’ High<\/strong> on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

The action kicks off at 10:30<\/strong> am on Paarl Boys’ High’s<\/strong> main Astroturf.<\/p>\n

Coach Jacques Grobler’s Gim side has enjoyed an impressive season, recording some big victories along the way, which has led to them capturing two major trophies.<\/p>\n

In March, they won the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and, earlier this month, they defeated SACS 2-1 to win gold at the Cape Town International Hockey Tournament<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Throughout the season, the Gimmies have been well led by their\u00a0charismatic captain, LD Nel<\/strong>. He’s been a regular on the score sheets throughout the year and his influential impact was rewarded with a place in the Boland u18A<\/b> team, which finished as the runners-up at the SASHOC National Week <\/strong><\/a>in Bloemfontein.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Nel will play his final match for Gim<\/strong>. Appropriately, his service to the school will end with the Paarl derby.<\/p>\n

Ahead of the big clash, Nel talked hockey in an interview with SuperSport Schools Plus<\/a><\/strong> hockey correspondent, Short Corner<\/strong>, touching on his career at Paarl Gim, the massive inter schools match which will bring it to an end, and the future.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When did your journey with the first team begin, and against who? How many caps do you currently have?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was picked for the first team in 2022, when I was in Grade 10, against a touring side from the Northern Cape. I’m currently on 97 caps.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ve had a pretty good season with your team. What are some of your highlights?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, we\u2019ve had an amazing season with lots of highlights.\u00a0 One was winning the Belgotex Sport Easter Hockey Tournament for a third time in a row.\u00a0Winning the Cape Town International Tournament against SACS was also huge for our school.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:
Photo: Lookonimages<\/a><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Which people have played the biggest role in your Hockey career?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My first team coach Stevo (Jacques Grobler) has been influential.<\/p>\n

He is an amazing coach and person, and I thank him for believing in me. Of course, I can’t forget my parents. They’ve always backed me, and I thank them as well.<\/p>\n

Looking at you, you look more like a rugby player than a hockey player. Do you play any other sport?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, I used to play rugby until Grade 7. I also play a bit of cricket, but hockey is the game I love.<\/p>\n

Is there anything you would have done differently?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No, I would not change anything.<\/p>\n

The Paarl Gim vs Paarl Boys’ High interschools match is always a massive event. How does it feel to take to the Astro in such a big game?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For me and my team, it’s an honour to be part of this big event.<\/p>\n

Interschools is a 50\/50 match and on the day it’s the one who wants the win the most that normally comes out on top.<\/p>\n

What advice do you have for young hockey players?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Keep on working hard to achieve your goals. Never stop believing in yourself. Hard work pays off.<\/p>\n

What are your plans for 2025?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Studying at Stellenbosch, BCom in Marketing.<\/p>\n

Favourite meal?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steak and Chips.<\/p>\n

Favourite Movie?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bad Boys 2.<\/p>\n

Other Hobbies and Interests?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My friends are very important to me. I like being with them, and hiking and just chilling with friends.<\/p>\n

\"Paarl
Photo: Karl Seebach<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Coach’s comment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Head coach, Jacques Grobler<\/strong>, who has coached Nel for the past three years in the senior side, commented: “LD is a positive person and very outgoing, which helps him to create strong bonds and friendships with his teammates.<\/p>\n

“He has played for the first team for three years, so he knows what I expect of the group and has led the group exactly as a captain should, by example.<\/p>\n

“LD has developed and continues to develop his leadership and hockey skills, which is almost a superpower for him as he loves to learn and just loves the game of hockey,” he concluded.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Paarl Gimnasium‘s first boys’ hockey team will set its sights on finishing the 2024 schoolboy hockey season on a high when they take on Paarl Boys’ High on Saturday morning. The action kicks off at 10:30 am on Paarl Boys’ High’s main Astroturf. Coach Jacques Grobler’s Gim side has enjoyed an impressive season, recording […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":53856,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=53855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53855\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=53855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=53855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.ssschoolsplus.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=53855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}