Magy Mengo makes waves in Holland

NAMIBIAN hockey star Magy Mengo has made her mark as a professional player in Holland after signing up with Dutch Premier League team Kampong Hockey Club in September last year.

Mengo first played for Dutch First Division club Spanderbosch last year, but joined Kampong after being spotted by their coach Rob Bianchi. Bianchi, who is also the assistant Dutch coach, was sufficiently impressed to sign up Mengo as a professional player.Mengo normally played central midfield, but Bianchi converted her to a striker and she immediately settled into the new position.”Bianchi decided to use me as a striker because I have one of the best shots in the team.It’s actually less work than that being a midfielder, but I’m enjoying the new position,” she said.Mengo has played an integral part in Kampong’s early season success, scoring seven goals in the first round of the Field League, which helped promote Kampong to third position on the log.During the winter break Indoor League, she was in great form, scoring eight goals in three matches.PRESSURE TO PERFORM As Namibia’s first professional hockey player, Mengo’s life has undergone quite a change, with money and other bonuses like accommodation and cars being heaped upon her, but as she told Namibia Sport, the pressure to perform at the highest level is now much higher.”I receive a monthly salary and get a lot of benefits like an apartment allowance, electricity, and a car.Each player in our team gets a sponsored car from Audi,” she said.”From the outside it might look very glamorous, but you have to work very hard to stay at the top, otherwise you will be dropped to the second team,” she added.According to Magy, the players also have to adhere to strict rules, which leaves little time for socialising.”After training we might get together for a few drinks, but on the whole we hardly go out because they are very strict.We have team rules and are not allowed to go out after a certain time.It’s quite strict, but I think it’s good,” she said.Kampong includes three Dutch national players and two German nationals and they hope to make a good impression at the European Club Championships in February.”I think we can do well.We have been working very hard and are aiming to finish amongst the top three clubs.Germany have some strong clubs and it will be our first time there, so we don’t really know what to expect, but we will be ready and give it our best shot,” she said.HUGE DIFFERENCE IN STANDARD Magy said there was a huge difference between Namibian hockey and that of Europe’s top professional clubs.”There is a huge difference – it’s really incomparable.If Namibia gets an Astroturf it would help a lot, but at the moment there is no comparison,” she said.”In Holland we play more of a passing game, but in Namibia everyone plays more individually and everybody wants to run with the ball.In Holland it’s a totally different structure and the approach is much more tactical.”Besides playing hockey, Mengo is studying International Financial Management at the International University in Amsterdam.Due to her studies she could not represent Namibia at the 2005 African Cup of Nations, but she was as excited as her compatriots when Namibia won a bronze medal.”I was really happy with the bronze medal that Namibia’s women won last year.I hope we can keep up the good work and maybe go for a silver this year,” she said.”South Africa is still too strong, but I think we can catch up with them in Indoor Hockey,” she added.Mengo said she would be available to play for Namibia in the African Cup of Nations Indoor Hockey Tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Walvis Bay later this year.Mengo has been interviewed in several Dutch newspapers and her higher profile has also put the spotlight on her native Namibia.”When I started playing there, nobody knew where Namibia was, but now everyone knows about Namibia.I was interviewed a lot and that helped – people always want to know more about Namibia and the lifestyle here,” she said.Mengo, who has been relaxing in Windhoek with her family and friends, returns to Holland next week and is looking forward to a successful year.”I think we can win the league title and I hope to do well in my studies as well.I’m determined to work hard to improve my game – everything comes from hard work,” she said.- Namibia SportBianchi, who is also the assistant Dutch coach, was sufficiently impressed to sign up Mengo as a professional player.Mengo normally played central midfield, but Bianchi converted her to a striker and she immediately settled into the new position.”Bianchi decided to use me as a striker because I have one of the best shots in the team.It’s actually less work than that being a midfielder, but I’m enjoying the new position,” she said.Mengo has played an integral part in Kampong’s early season success, scoring seven goals in the first round of the Field League, which helped promote Kampong to third position on the log.During the winter break Indoor League, she was in great form, scoring eight goals in three matches.PRESSURE TO PERFORM As Namibia’s first professional hockey player, Mengo’s life has undergone quite a change, with money and other bonuses like accommodation and cars being heaped upon her, but as she told Namibia Sport, the pressure to perform at the highest level is now much higher.”I receive a monthly salary and get a lot of benefits like an apartment allowance, electricity, and a car.Each player in our team gets a sponsored car from Audi,” she said.”From the outside it might look very glamorous, but you have to work very hard to stay at the top, otherwise you will be dropped to the second team,” she added.According to Magy, the players also have to adhere to strict rules, which leaves little time for socialising.”After training we might get together for a few drinks, but on the whole we hardly go out because they are very strict.We have team rules and are not allowed to go out after a certain time.It’s quite strict, but I think it’s good,” she said.Kampong includes three Dutch national players and two German nationals and they hope to make a good impression at the European Club Championships in February.”I think we can do well.We have been working very hard and are aiming to finish amongst the top three clubs.Germany have some strong clubs and it will be our first time there, so we don’t really know what to expect, but we will be ready and give it our best shot,” she said.HUGE DIFFERENCE IN STANDARD Magy said there was a huge difference between Namibian hockey and that of Europe’s top professional clubs.”There is a huge difference – it’s really incomparable.If Namibia gets an Astroturf it would help a lot, but at the moment there is no comparison,” she said.”In Holland we play more of a passing game, but in Namibia everyone plays more individually and everybody wants to run with the ball.In Holland it’s a totally different structure and the approach is much more tactical.”Besides playing hockey, Mengo is studying International Financial Management at the International University in Amsterdam.Due to her studies she could not represent Namibia at the 2005 African Cup of Nations, but she was as excited as her compatriots when Namibia won a bronze medal.”I was really happy with the bronze medal that Namibia’s women won last year.I hope we can keep up the good work and maybe go for a silver this year,” she said.”South Africa is still too strong, but I think we can catch up with them in Indoor Hockey,” she added.Mengo said she would be available to play for Namibia in the African Cup of Nations Indoor Hockey Tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Walvis Bay later this year.Mengo has been interviewed in several Dutch newspapers and her higher profile has also put the spotlight on her native Namibia.”When I started playing there, nobody knew where Namibia was, but now everyone knows about Namibia.I was interviewed a lot and that helped – people always want to know more about Namibia and the lifestyle here,” she said.Mengo, who has been relaxing in Windhoek with her family and friends, returns to Holland next week and is lo
oking forward to a successful year.”I think we can win the league title and I hope to do well in my studies as well.I’m determined to work hard to improve my game – everything comes from hard work,” she said.- Namibia Sport