It’s not often that Lenique Vogel fails to score. When that happens, you can, nonetheless, be sure that she influenced the game.
Vogel didn’t find the back of the net when Northern Gauteng A went up against Boland A in a crucial must-win pool game at the SASHOC u18 girls’ SASHOC National Week. And yet, she produced one of her best performances ever to help the Sky Blues secure a hard-fought 1-0 win over their opposition, and that put them into the semi-finals at the expense of Boland.
“One of her biggest strengths is her ability to create something out of nothing. Against Boland, she did more by being disciplined in defence. She also used her ability to pin teams back with speed to good effect,” Sinoxolo Mbekeni, the Northerns U18A coach, told SuperSport Schools News.
Vogel’s versatility was one of the reasons why Northerns reached the final. It is also the reason why she took home the Player of the Tournament award, in addition to winning a silver medal after Northerns finished as the runner-up.
“I felt very grateful to be named the Player of the Tournament. In that moment, it felt like all the pieces were starting to come together and all the hard work was paying off,” Vogel reflected.
The 17-year-old’s hockey journey began because of her older sister, Angele, whom she idolised. If there was anyone whom she wanted to emulate, it was Angele. Vogel shadowed her older sibling and mimicked everything she did with her teammates. Their backyard contests not only gave Lenique a close-up view of Angele’s skills, which she copied, but they also sharpened her competitive edge.
“I played mini hockey with the Grade 1s when I was in Grade 0. I was a very competitive girl and would always want to be better than them, even though I was younger,” Vogel recalled.
Later, Vogel discovered Maria Granatto, the Argentine superstar, whom she names as one of her role models in the sport. She was mesmerised by Granatto’s work rate on and off the ball, and her skills in the circle.
Vogel carried her visions of players who inspire her, resilience, and competitive nature to school hockey, where she met coaches who bolstered her attributes with a solid technical grounding. That combination ensured that she continued to play against older players because she was consistently too good for her peers.
“What stands out most is that she has kept growing and is still getting better. She never seems satisfied with where she is and always wants more from herself,” Omari Pienaar-Geyer, the Hoërskool Waterkloof head coach, said.
“Her desire to improve, learn, and push her own limits has been a big part of her development, not only as a player but also as a team member. She brings a mindset of wanting to contribute, improve, and help the team succeed.”
Vogel made her first-team debut at 15 and has been a vital part of their successes ever since.
Her first major contribution was helping Waterkloof secure a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Fairtree Super 12 Tournament, despite the Pretoria school heading into the competition as one of the lower seeds.
She has been a contributor, one way or another, to all of Waterkloof’s subsequent successes since then.
Vogel points to Waterkloof’s 2026 Belgotex Girls’ Challenge campaign as her most memorable hockey memory yet.
“Winning the Belgotex Girls challenge this year was a big highlight for me. I think we all just decided then and there we are going to do it, and then there was no stopping us,” Vogel said.
Beyond school hockey, she considers representing Northerns at the U18 and senior IPTs as achievements she will always hold dear.
“Getting to play with players like Edith (Molikoe) and playing against players of the same calibre was just really exciting, and I definitely grew as a player during that time. Playing at the U21 IPT was also a big highlight,” said Vogel. Despite being only 17, she looked like she belonged, no matter the competition.
Pienaar-Geyer said the teenager has the profile of an international-calibre player, describing her as someone who blends speed, strength, and resilience with the mentality of a ruthless competitor.
“Whether scoring goals, driving play, or inspiring teammates, she proves time and again that she is a big moments’ player, destined to leave a lasting impact,” Pienaar-Geyer reckoned.
“Beyond her technical skillset, Lenique embodies the values of discipline, coachability, and commitment. She adapts seamlessly to different roles, sets uncompromising standards in training, and leads by example through her work ethic and positive attitude.
“Her presence elevates not only her own performance but also the collective spirit of the team,” Pienaar-Geyer continued.
Hockey competition can become heated. In those moments, Vogel takes a deep breath and sometimes throws in a little prayer asking for strength, and then focuses on doing the basics right because “then everything else will come after that.”
That is what she did when Northerns locked horns with Boland A at the SASHOC National Week. By simplifying things, she allowed herself to play her best. Goals or no goals, that is what matters to Lenique Vogel: giving her best for her team.
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