Justin Rosenberg has a vision for Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Affies). The renowned coach, who took over as the Head of Hockey on 11 August, wants the Witstokke to be one of the top teams in the country.
“It is an achievable goal, given the talent pool we have. However, it won’t happen just like that. It is a process,” Rosenberg told SuperSport Schools News.
Rosenberg has good reason to be optimistic about his vision. He watched Affies’ senior team lift the Pretoria Cup over the weekend.
He also witnessed the U14 side walk away with the silver in their age group.
Their U16 side will be in action this week, and they’re still in the running for the gold.
“The performances are a testament to the good work done by my predecessors,” Rosenberg said.
“I want to make sure we retain that status in the province. A strong Affies side means that we have a strong Northerns team,” he added.
Rosenberg has enjoyed a storied coaching career, driven by the joy of seeing the next generation grasp concepts and skills that served him well through various age groups.
As a player, he played hockey in Spain and England, which helped to shape his coaching philosophy. He also learnt from watching successful coaches like Rob Pullen in action.
A lifelong student of the game, Rosenberg is always on the lookout for anything that improves his knowledge of the game. That hunger to continue learning and growing underpins his coaching success.
In recent years, he has enjoyed notable success with the South Africa Men’s Indoor Hockey team, leading them to three Nkosi Cup titles, two FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup appearances, and a historic bronze medal at the 2025 FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup in Croatia, the highest-ever finish by an African team in any senior hockey World Cup.
One of the biggest lessons he has learnt, Rosenberg shared, was that success is the product of a robust team culture. Therefore, he is intent on making that one of his primary building blocks with Affies.
“We want to build a culture that not only shapes good hockey players at Affies, but also one that shapes individuals who can compete on and off the field.
“We want our players to play for something bigger than just the scoreline, something bigger than themselves,” he explained.
Successful teams are driven by the desire of players, when they move on, to leave the badge in a better place than they found it. They play for each other, creating a sense of belonging, for their team members and opposing teams.
Successful teams also create bonds, a brotherhood that lasts beyond the field and the school walls. That is the culture that Rosenberg intends to build at Affies.
On the field, he wants his teams to be dynamic and skilful, playing an attractive brand of hockey. He is also keen to improve the defensive abilities of Affies’ teams.
“The more we educate and upskill the boys, the more they’re able to problem-solve on the field,” Rosenberg explained. Those are skills that the players will be able to take into the world, beyond hockey.
For Rosenberg, whose love for coaching has been driven by his desire to give back to the next generation of players, the ultimate goal is to help nurture well-rounded young men.
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