Former hockey star wants to show the world what Namibia can do

It was never Sedric Makati’s dream to play hockey.

“Hockey was the last sport I thought I would play one. I come from a netball and football-playing family.

“My mother played netball, and my father was brilliant with a football between his feet and even played for Liverpool of Okahandja.

“I always wanted to play football so that I could challenge and tell my dad one day that I was a better player than him.”

But as fate would have it Makati broke his foot while riding his bicycle, and could hardly play football thereafter.

“I was then advised to try my luck at hockey,” he says.

Makati started playing hockey at the age of 14 at M&K Gertze Secondary School because there was no real hockey development at Rehoboth.

However, his Grade 11 and 12 years at Dr Lemmer Secondary School saw him develop into one of the finest goalkeepers around, before he switched to midfield where he went on to excel for Unam under the watchful eye of Erwin Handura.

“It was impossible to ignore any player playing for the Unam men’s team at the time. We were the team to beat. We were the dominant force on the local hockey scene.

“Unam players formed the bulk of the national team. We were a very talented group of players,” he says.

Makati, who was 20 when he was moved to the senior team, then took a conscious decision to change clubs because he wanted to test himself against the best.

He therefore joined DTS in the men’s premier league.

“I wanted to challenge myself more, because playing with the best players for the best team in the league did not really push me to the limit.

“I wanted to prove myself at a new club. It was very hard at the beginning. My new DTS teammates and I had to work extremely hard to reach the top level.

“My move eventually opened up movement from other players also joining other clubs, although not too many,” he says.

Makati says he would probably never have pursued a coaching career, was it not for the encouragement and support he received from his DTS teammates and management.

He says he toured the continent with the senior men’s hockey playing indoor as well as field hockey in countries like Botswana, Egypt, Ghana and South Africa, while his hockey journey also took him to European countries like Germany, Holland and Poland.

In fact, it was in Poland during the 2011 Indoor Hockey World Cup that the former Unam star says he played the most memorable match of his career against top-ranked Germany.

“Forget about the 18-0 hammering we received against the highly superior Germans. The match was both an eye-opener and a rude awakening for us. I did not even feel the slightest humiliation, because we were at the world cup on merit,” Makati says.

WORK, FAMILY

Makati and his wife, Anja, have two children, while they have also helped to raise and educate several other members of the family.

Makati, who previously taught social studies at Constantia Private School for 10 years, is currently an online mathematics and science teacher.

“It has always been in my nature to help others,” he says.

“That is what prompted me to become a teacher – to help shape the futures of youngsters.

Makati also coaches Windhoek Afrikaans Privaatskool’s boys under-19 hockey team, whom he has led to two consecutive championships.

He was recently appointed as coach of the senior women’s national side which will participate at the 2024 Hockey World Cup in Muscat, Oman.

“I still have a very long way to go in this sport called hockey. I want to leave my own legacy, or even surpass that of my predecessors in the national set-up. I’m always looking for the newest coaching ideas because of my passion for the sport.

“I want to install a winning mentality into my players. I want to go to the world and compete, and not just participate. No one gives us a chance against the powerhouse nations, but we are all human and that leaves room for shocks and surprises.”

Although he has retired from representing DTS in the top men’s league, Makati is still turning out for the masters side whenever his schedule allows him, although he prefers umpiring.

“I must admit I’m still struggling to come to terms with my appointment as national coach, but I guess it all boils down to the hard work I’m putting into the teams I’m coaching.

“There was absolutely no dream of being national team coach ever. My aim is to go and show the world what my little country is capable of,” he says.

Makati’s advice to aspiring young hockey players is to be wary of a negative mindset.

“Our sport people tend to lose focus when they hit the top of their game. Be humble and always respect your opponents, that will take you far in the game,” he says.