The balance between a student and a competitive hockey player

(By: Sylvia Hashondali)

For many students at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), university life is already a balancing act; deadlines, lectures, group projects, and exams are demanding enough on their own. But for those who step onto the hockey field in NUST colours, that balance becomes even more delicate.

They are student-athletes, constantly juggling between the classroom and the pitch. Few people understand this balance better than Fenestha Pienaar, the Head Coach of the NUST Men’s Hockey Team. Having taken up the coaching role in 2019, Pienaar has guided many players who embody the unique challenge of being both students and athletes.

In an interview with Campus Connect, Pienaar shared that Hockey helps reset the brain, keeps you healthy, and teaches both discipline and teamwork, further stating that taking care of both sport and schoolwork helps players build a better future for themselves. “I always tell my players that school comes first.

Your education is what’s going to set you up for the future, especially if you’ll need to help your family one day; however, that doesn’t mean hockey isn’t important,” said Pienaar. Of course, this balancing act requires constant adjustment. Pienaar noted that while she doesn’t alter training schedules for every test or assignment, she is conscious of the strain students face. Stating that practice helps them recharge and refocus for studying.

“But when it comes to major exams, we do adjust. Games are moved to after exams are written, and training is lightened if needed,” she says, adding, “I want them to keep moving, because exercise gives them energy and helps them manage stress, but I also want them to do their best academically.”

The student-athlete life is no theory for Philip Magongo, Captain of the NUST Men’s Hockey Team and a third-year Computer Science student. Magongo noted that on practice days, he heads directly from work to training and only gets to rest later in the evening after practice. The schedule is unrelenting, leaving little room for leisure. “The two biggest sacrifices I’ve made are time and health.

Being a student-athlete barely leaves me with any leisure time, so I don’t really have a social life outside of hockey and school. Health-wise, there are times when I’m not fully fit to play or haven’t had enough rest from juggling work and studying, but I still show up for my team and push through for the performance,” Magongo shared. Balancing academics and hockey is no easy feat, and Magongo admits questioning whether it’s all worth it.

“Yes, I’ve thought about giving up hockey to focus on school alone multiple times. But whenever I feel that way, I remind myself why I started playing in the first place. The passion and excitement I get from the game keep me going. I’m not the type to just quit. I’d rather struggle and keep trying than give up after coming this far,” he says.

Just as Coach Pienaar believes hockey instills structure, Magongo finds the sport sharpening his academic discipline, highlighting that being an athlete helps him stay focused and disciplined. Despite the long hours and the sacrifices, Magongo believes the journey is worth it, and he hopes to inspire other young women and men at NUST who dream of following in his footsteps.

Adding another perspective to the student-athlete experience is Matukaramove Kavikairiua, a Bachelor of Land Administration student and NUST hockey player. For him, balancing classes, training, and personal time is a daily challenge, though he manages to make both work “without conflict.” Kavikairiua believes sport builds skills that carry into the classroom, stating, “Being an athlete teaches teamwork, discipline, and consistency, qualities you need in academics as well.”

The hardest test, he admits, comes when academics and competition collide. “When exams and an international tournament fall in the same month, it feels like having to choose between the two. I cope by prioritizing whichever is most urgent at the time, shifting my focus week by week depending on what’s coming up,” he shared. Kavikairua advised student-athletes to plan their schedules carefully, stating, “Balancing academics and sport can be tough, but with discipline and good time management, you can succeed in both.”

“Remember that the skills you gain in the field, focus, resilience, and teamwork, will also carry you through in your studies,” he says. At its core, hockey at NUST is more than just a sport. It’s a training ground for life, teaching discipline, teamwork, resilience, and time management.