One of the country’s top schools, Maritzburg College, will have a new leader of its hockey programme from 2027 onwards.
The school announced the appointment of Old Boy Wade Paton as its Director of Hockey on Monday.
Paton, who spent his high school years at Northwood and Maritzburg College, will join the Pietermaritzburg school from Westville Boys’ High, where he served as the “Hockey Pro Coach“, while also coaching cricket for just over a year.
He takes over from Mark Sanders, who was at the helm for three years.
Paton will arrive at College armed with the knowledge he gained from an outstanding career as a player. He earned 125 caps for the South African field hockey team and 11 caps with the South African indoor side.
In 2012, he represented South Africa at the London Olympic Games, sandwiched between the 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games, which were held in Delhi and Glasgow, respectively.
Paton also turned out for South Africa at both indoor and field hockey World Cups, as well as at the Africa Cup. He played professionally in Belgium for Gantoise.
Earlier this year, he served as an assistant coach to Harold Siyaya, helping to guide KZN Coastal to the U18 SASHOC National Week title. Speaking to SuperSport Schools News after the announcement, Paton said he was excited.
“It’s a dream come true, actually,” he admitted.
“It was one of those moments where something just feels right. I saw the post was advertised, and I felt a sense of belonging. That’s where I needed to go.
“It’s been a bit surreal; I’m in a dream world at the moment before the hard work starts, but I’m really blessed to be going back.”
While he’s spent the last year offering his services to Westville, Paton says he’s looking forward to a completely different challenge.
“It’s nice to put your own twist on a programme,” he explained.
“That’s what I’m looking forward to. I’m looking forward to implementing something over three years, in a manner that I believe can take College hockey to the highest level of schoolboy hockey in the country.
“I’m also excited to bring in new ideas, obviously mixed in with the incredible coaching staff that exists already.”
The homecoming will also be a full-circle moment for Paton, who will get to work with his former coach, Mike Bechet.
Bechet coached Paton when he was in school, and he never imagined working alongside him in his wildest dreams.
“He was my first team coach at College, and now to have him as the U14 coach in a programme I will run is just a wild thing to imagine.
“He sent me a message earlier, welcoming me back to the Red Army.”
Paton also acknowledged that schoolboy hockey has evolved significantly since his playing days, with rival programmes vastly improved.
“You can’t discredit what other schools and other programmes have done over the last 20-odd years,” he said.
“Back in my time, in 2004, up until then, College had been incredibly dominant and was dominant for a few years after that.
“I think the programmes across the province and country have gotten better. Facilities have improved; more schools have artificial fields, whereas College used to be the only one at one stage.
“It was a no-brainer that they would catch up, but it comes down to what your programme is like. I’m going to give the programme the best chance to perform at the highest level.”
Apart from his responsibilities as the Director of Hockey, Paton will also coach the first team, famously known as the “Red Army“.
When asked what brand of hockey can be expected from the team next season, he said: “It’s going to be fast. It’s going to be high-tempo and with lots of intensity.
“I’m looking for boys who are relentless, who are going to give me four chukkas of everything they have and leave absolutely everything out there.
“I don’t know a lot of the players; I don’t know their skill levels, so a lot of my coaching will have to be on heart, and to get the best out of them.
“It’s in the lower levels of the programme where we will start to develop technically and adjust the programme.”
