East London’s Akhile Mdlalane is to join the South African Women’s Hockey High-Performance Squad for the 2025/2026 season after impressing during the SA Hockey IPT.
Mdlalane, 19, who was a grade 12 pupil at Cambridge High School in 2024, said she found out through her aunt that she had made the squad.
“Honestly, I was surprised. I did not expect this opportunity to come this soon. I was hoping to be part of the national team set-up at a later stage.”
She was also recently selected for the U21 women’s team but says national selection was her biggest achievement yet.
The SA squad was officially announced on September 5, with Mdlalane one of 11 uncapped players selected in the squad of 36.
Mdlalane is in her first year at Northwest University, studying a BCom in financial accounting.
She said the transition from high school to university had not been easy but she had managed.
“Having a schedule and sticking to it is one of my main goals. It has been tough, but working off a schedule has made it easier for me.
“Studying and training has been tiring so I’ve had to balance light and heavy training and studying in between.”
“Mentally, physically and emotionally it was tough. The first four month were challenging but I eventually got the groove of things.
“We have mentors and they have helped out a lot.”
Earlier in 2025, Mdlalane received the honour of being the captain of the Border women’s U19 team.
She has had to put aside her love for cricket and put her focus entirely on hockey.
“When the opportunity came to study at NWU on a bursary through hockey, I decided to take it first.
“I’ve been advised to play cricket on the side. I do miss the sport, but I’m fully focused on hockey.”
The selection into the high-performance squad means she could represent the nation at the FIH Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium in 2026.
But the young lower midfielder said she was only focused on improving herself day by day and learning from the likes of Quanita Bobbs who had 185 caps.
“I don’t want to make it my main goal for now. What is important for me as I am in the high-performance squad for the first time is to learn from the experienced players. I’m still young and I’m still growing as a player.”
Mdlalane is inspired by fellow East Londoner Bianca Woods, who has been part of the national team set-up since 2019.
“We haven’t spoken a lot but watching her has inspired me. She is a confident player and that inspires me to ignite my own confidence.
“I believe that whatever I put my mind to I can do because she’s always done it like that.”
Mdlalane and her teammates in the high-performance squad will begin preparations for the upcoming international calendar that will see the team play Test series in SA and abroad in the build-up to the next World Cup.
High-performance head Reggie Smith said: “This squad is about building momentum and ensuring we have the balance of experience and youth to take SA forward in the international game.”
Daily Dispatch
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