Former Steinhoff Maties Hockey player Ashlin Freddy is the new Maties Men's first team coach. He replaces Neville Rothman, who coached the team for the past two seasons.

Freddy is a former national player who played 17 matches for the Proteas. He was at Stellenbosch University from 2008 to 2011.

"It is a massive honour to coach at Maties. Some great players and even better coaches have led this team to great heights. Simon Organ started the Maties revolution and Kurt Cerfontyne and Neville Rothman continued it. I know I am privileged to have this opportunity and I know the massive task that lies before me. However, it is something that excites me and I'm up for the challenge," said Freddy.

Freddy has been a coach at Paul Roos Gymnasium since 2009.

"I started with the u/19E team and then slowly worked my way up from u/14B to u/14A to u/16A. This year I was appointed as the 1st team coach at PRG. I've been coaching the Boland u/18A team since 2012 and last year we won the u/18 interprovincial tournament for the first time! That was my best hockey experience to date."

As a player that knows all about being a Matie, Freddy is eager to set the standard early on and contribute his bit to the greatness of Maties hockey. "In my time with Maties I want to improve on the legacy set by previous coaches, and provide the standard of coaching to allow the youth of Maties Hockey to become the future of South African international hockey." 

Freddy's first challenge will be to see Maties perform at the Varsity Hockey series in May. In 2014, Maties lost in the final to UJ.

Photo: Outsider Communications