South Africa continues to pay tribute to retired hockey legend Rhett Halkett who announced his plans to hang up his stick after 157 national caps.
The 33-year-old who has played in the top hockey league in the world has offered reassuring words promising that he will not totally be lost to sport as he will be eyeing a coaching role in future.
Only as recent as 2016, Halkett was named the South African Hockey Player of the Year and his exploits saw him offered a contract in Europe a decade ago and during his time there he played four seasons in the Dutch top league, the Hoofdklasse, and 5 Bundesliga seasons with Mannheimer and Hamburg.
Halkett says retiring has not been an easy decision.
Halkett has garnered experience at the highest level having appeared in two editions of club hockey’s finest competition the Euro Hockey League and he feels the Premier Hockey League (PHL) and Inter-provincials’ tournament (IPT) can be merged.
Halkett says he would grab a chance to work with the SA women’s hockey team if the opportunity came through.
Halkett feels Dayaan Cassiem will be a player to watch for the men’s hockey team and will be a huge asset for South Africa going forward. – Report by Jefferson Lupuwana
