Edith Molikoe of South Africa gets away with the ball from Reese D'ariano and Nathalie Friedman of USA during the FIH Indoor Hockey Women's World Cup at Heartfelt Arena Edith Molikoe will be aiming to use her experience to help the SA women’s hockey team against their high-ranked opposition at the Paris Olympics. Picture: Oupa Mokoena/Independent Media
Edith Molikoe aims to ‘leave it all out on the playing field’ as she prepares to represent the South African women’s hockey team at the Paris Olympics.
As massive underdogs, South Africa begin their Olympic campaign on Sunday, against Australia at 12:45pm.
Molikoe is no stranger to playing hockey at the Olympics. She debuted in 2021 at the Tokyo Olympics.
"To me, it was like, oh my word. I am in the same place as athletes I have only seen on television,” said Molikoe.
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Three years late, Molikoe has 34 Proteas caps to her name. At the start of the month, she co-captained Tuks to victory during the USSA Tournament played in Johannesburg.
The Tuks student is realistic about what awaits the team on Paris's AstroTurf’s.
South Africa are 18th on the world rankings, are considered the weakest in their group. Their most difficult game will be against the second-ranked Argentina. Australia is ranked fifth.
"Experience has taught me not to take anything for granted in sport. Sometimes things will be for your team, and sometimes they won't. I think if we can stay in the moment in Paris and be present for every game, we might surprise ourselves.
“From a personal perspective, I want to learn from the best how to play better. More importantly, I would not want to return home with regrets and feeling like I could have done more."
Molikoe ,who plays as a midfielder, explains their her distribution skills are her strength.
"I'm a very technical player. It means I can throw overheads. I can snap. I can hit. So that's what I bring to the team, but also my speed, my communication, and as well as the ability to read the game."
IOL Sport