Talent has opened the door for Newcastle hockey player Joey Du Preez.

Now, community support can help her walk through it.

Du Preez has been selected to represent the KZN Coastal Country Districts Ladies Hockey Team at the upcoming South African Country Districts Hockey Tournament, which is set to take place from 5 to 12 July 2026 in George, Western Cape.

It is a proud achievement for the young player and a moment that deserves recognition from the Newcastle sporting community.

Selection at this level is earned through commitment, discipline, training and performance. For Joey, it is an opportunity to represent her team, her province and her hometown on a national hockey stage.

But like many young athletes in South Africa, the opportunity comes with a financial challenge.

The tour is self-funded, meaning the costs linked to tournament participation, travel, accommodation, team kit and other related expenses must be covered before she can take full advantage of the opportunity she has earned.

According to the sponsorship request, the estimated tournament cost per player is R6,400, with travel costs estimated at R10,500 due to fuel-related expenses.

Her family and supporters are now appealing to the community for assistance through donations or raffle ticket support.

This is where local sport often finds itself.

A player works hard enough to be selected. A team opens the door. A national tournament offers the platform. But money becomes the final hurdle between talent and opportunity.

That should matter to every person who believes in youth sport.

Sport is more than a game. It builds discipline, confidence, leadership and resilience. It teaches young people how to compete, how to carry pressure and how to represent something bigger than themselves.

When a young athlete from Newcastle earns a chance to compete at national level, the achievement belongs to more than the player. It reflects the family that supported her, the coaches who guided her, the schools and clubs that shaped her, and the community that now has a chance to stand behind her.

Joey’s selection is one of those moments.

It is a chance for Newcastle to back one of its own.

The request is not about charity. It is about supporting talent that has already proven itself.

Every donation, every raffle ticket and every act of support helps reduce the financial pressure on the family and brings Joey closer to taking the field in George.

It also sends a message to other young athletes watching from the sidelines.

It tells them that when they work hard, their community will not look away.

It tells them that local talent matters.

It tells them that dreams should not collapse simply because the costs are too heavy for one family to carry alone.

Joey Du Preez has done her part by earning selection.

Now the community has a chance to do its part by helping her get there.

Anyone who would like to assist can contact Corrie du Preez on WhatsApp at 079 626 1052.