“My philosophy is to control what is in your control, not waste time, and focus on things you have no control over. I try to live this every day.”
“Progress belongs to those who ask questions; the smarter the question, the lesser the guessing.” Aniekee Tochukwu Ezekiel
Field Hockey, to us in the eastern part of India, is more than just an emotion. Indeed, the game has been the biggest escape from reality for many a legion of fans and athletes. Every hockey story is important. Every life that once held a hockey stick is precious.
TSC’s Ravi Mandapaka caught up with Geoff Abbott, a member of the gold medal-winning South African field hockey team in the 2007 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, both held in Nairobi. He also represented South Africa at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
Ravi: Firstly, thank you for giving your valuable time to The Sports Column. Let’s begin by having you tell us about your background and what brought you into field hockey.
Ben Gawes (L) captain of Great Britain vies for the ball with Geoffery Abbott of South Africa during their 2008 Beijing Olympic Games preliminary men’s field hockey match in Beijing on August 15, 2008. Great Britain won 2-0. AFP PHOTO/AAMIR QURESHI
Geoff Abbott: It is my pleasure and feels so great to talk with you, Ravi. My journey in hockey started very early. I was just six years of age. Coming from South Africa, there is a big rugby union culture, and we were exposed to the sport (rugby union) early on. Unfortunately, I never really understood the fuss and did not enjoy a sport where you had to pass back to go forwards. To cut a long story short, my school encouraged me to play rugby. The school highlighted that the kids had to play a sport, so I asked to play hockey. They were funny about my response and told me it was a girl’s sport. Not easily pushed into a corner, my response was, “fine, I will play with the girls,” and so I did. This did not make me popular with my peers and staff at the school, but I loved the sport and was doing something I loved; I suppose the rest is history.
Ravi: There’s always talked about being fit as an athlete and being match-fit. How big was that area of concern when you started playing the game? Who were the biggest inspirations for your career?
Geoff Abbott: You are right, Ravi. There is a difference between being fit and being match fit; however, it was not a concern for me. I also ensured I was one of the fittest on the team. This was for two reasons: becoming match fit is much easier and quicker if you are fit. The second reason, I was not the most naturally gifted when it came to silky skills, but this (being fit) was something I could control. As for inspiration, I would say an ex-South African hockey player named Shaun Cook. He was a current SA hockey player and coach when I was coming through my provisional academy, he took me under his wing, and I will always appreciate his support.
Ravi: Rugby is quite popular in South Africa. What sports and games did you enjoy playing as a child? Was it always hockey from your childhood? Do you have any personal favorites?
Geoff Abbott: As a child, I played every and any sport. I played tennis, cricket, athletics, lifesaving, and water polo and was part of a competitive swimming club. Me, I most enjoyed team sports, like cricket and hockey. Having that camaraderie and sharing moments and memories is what motivated me. I loved playing cricket as a summer sport and then playing hockey in the winter. Hockey was my first love, and when I grew older, the demands for hockey training became too much to maintain both sports, so as I finished school, it was full-time hockey.
Ravi: There have been forwards of the game in the past who regretted playing as midfielders on the pitch. Do you have any favorite positions? Did your coaches always give you the freedom to play your natural style?
Geoff Abbott: Funny story, I started my career as a defender; I went to the 2004 junior world cup as a central defender. A year later, I was selected for my first senior national camp as a midfielder, and then in 2006, I was selected for the senior world cup team in Monchengladbach as a striker. Then in 2008, when we went to the Olympics in Beijing, I was selected as a striker; however, as part of the rules, we were only allowed to take one keeper. The coach, Gregg Clark, was worried that if our keeper were injured during a game, we would not have a replacement. He subsequently asked if I could stand in as a backup keeper! Thank goodness our keeper stayed fit and healthy, and I never ended up putting on the pads. My favorite position is striker, but I never regretted my time in other positions because they all taught me different skills that I included in my game.
Ravi: What were the strategies/aspects of your training unique? How did you develop as an athlete?
Geoff Abbott: I loved competing and always trained hard. I would always be one of the last to leave the training field. It was not always business, I had great people around me, and one of my coaches (who became my best man at my wedding and teammate at the Olympics) taught me that it was essential to have a balance. So having fun was a theme to life, on and off the field.
Ravi: Representing the country is something special for any player. It must have been for you, too. What were some of your memorable wins on the hockey pitch in your national jersey?
Geoff in action
Geoff Abbott: I have many great memories, on and off the field. Some of my most memorable moments were singing the national anthem at the beginning of my first game for South Africa. Scoring the winning goal in the gold medal at the African Cup that earned us a spot at the 2008 Olympics is another great memory. Then experienced the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympic Games and met a sporting inspiration of mine, Rodger Federer, on the same night. I sat before him on the bus back to the Olympic village; he was surprisingly chatty and interested in our stories. What a great guy.
Ravi: Can you tell us about the hockey culture in your country and the continent of Africa? Were there any gaps between coaching and fitness training standards you identified growing up?
Geoff Abbott: Unfortunately, I would class hockey in South Africa as a tier 2 sport behind the likes of rugby, cricket, and soccer. This means there is limited funding and support, and the people playing the sport play for love, not fame or money. I would be afraid to say this would be the case in most African countries. I firmly believe South Africa is rich with sporting talent, but when there is very limited support, you see the gap in world rankings when you compare the nations with the funding and support and those without. The good old saying “talent can only get you so far” runs true.
Ravi: Can you tell us about the support you received from your family back home?
Geoff Abbott: I was extremely fortunate to have fantastic support from my mum. She would never hesitate to take me to train or find a way to fund my tournaments when I was younger. I did not come from a wealthy family and knew that my mum made a lot of sacrifices to support me. I am so grateful because, without this support, I would have never achieved a 10th of what I was fortunate to experience.
Ravi: South Africa remains one of the most prosperous countries in the African Nations Cup Field Hockey. Can you talk us through your 2013 Nairobi Gold?
Geoff Abbott: This is a bit of an emotional one for me, I did not know it then, but this would turn out to be the last time I represented South Africa. I suppose winning a gold medal is not a bad way to go out!
Ravi: Can you elucidate to us the current situation of women’s hockey in your country? How positive are you about the prospects in field hockey ahead?
Geoff Abbott: I think women’s hockey in South Africa is similar to that of the men. They have great people involved and heaps of talent. Without the support and financial backing, competing consistently at the top will always be an uphill battle. I summarized my view on the prospects of the sport in South Africa in the previous question.
Ravi: How do you see hockey evolving in your province and our country South Africa? How the support system was, and what kind of support (technically, emotionally, and financially) did you receive from the Hockey Federation?
More Geoff
Geoff Abbott: I feel for the South African Hockey federation. I think their intention is good, and they want to support and grow hockey as best they can, and truth be told, they do an excellent job with the little they have. We have spoken previously about the massive funding limitations, but I would like to talk a little bit about psychological resources. I suppose it comes down to funding and being able to fund these resources. Unfortunately, these are nonexistent, and this support is put on the coach. As a player, I reflect on challenging times and moments leading up to big defining moments and certainly could have done with that support. As a young person, going into a major tournament like the Olympics and World Cups can be challenging mentally, and this support would have made an enormous difference.
Ravi: If I may ask, what have been your major highlights/achievements in your career? Do you have any favorite tournament, ground, or match?
Geoff Abbott: My favorite tournament has to be the Olympic Games. Going to the indoor world cup in Leipzig, Germany, in 2014, being indoors had one of the best atmospheres I have ever experienced. Despite not performing as well as we should have, the experience was amazing! Other great memories were winning the gold medal at the African cup twice in 2007 and 2013.
Ravi: How do you see South Africa Hockey journeying till Paris 2024 and beyond?
Geoff Abbott: I am optimistic. We have a great coach in Gareth Ewing, and he has great young talent that he has managed to inspire. Gareth and his team did a great job in Tokyo, and I think they could break barriers and turn heads in Paris 2024.
Ravi: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Any plans of returning home and stepping into coaching or consulting?
Geoff Abbott: In 5 years, I will be on the sidelines, an enthusiastic supporter of hockey and cheering on the South African team.
Ravi: Do you have any personal favorites in hockey? What is your all-time XI in field hockey?
Geoff Abbott: Wow, here is a stab that might show my age.
Goal Keeper: Loic Van Doren (Belgium)
Defender: Mark Knowles (Australia), Timo Wess (Germany), Philipp Corne (Germany), TaekeTaekema (Holland)
Midfield: Teun Denooijer (Holland), Lucas Villa (Argentina), Felix Denayer (Belgium)
Striker: Jamie Dwyer (Australia), Christopher Zeller (Germany), Thomas Briels (Belgium)
Ravi: What is your philosophy in sports and life? How would you encourage and preach good sportsmanship?
Geoffrey Abbott: My philosophy is to control what is in your control, not waste time, and focus on things you have no control over. I try to live this every day.
Ravi: Lastly, what message would you give to the modern-day players and coaches about ethics and character?
Geoffrey Abbott: My message would be that it is a privilege.
