In 2003, I was lucky enough to represent my country in the Afro-Asia Games in Hyderabad – this experience really opened my heart and mind to the wonderful world that is India and instilled a deep passion and desire inside me to want to experience it again. The moment I was accepted in the Indian Institute of Management to complete my post graduate studies, I wanted to fulfil my dream of playing in a major Indian hockey tournament for an Indian team. My dates were set, I arrived in India on (redsock) Friday 11^th June wearing my Bafana shirt (of course) and I would be India for the duration of the term until 31^st August. Not only did there have to be a tournament on during this time but it also had to not clash with any major school commitments which I soon discovered in India were very rigid!

Here is a photo of me about to board my connecting flight to Bangalore from Dubai on the opening day of the World Cup in our country.

Many people thought I was going in the wrong direction. Surely a passionate South African like myself would want to be in his own country for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Of course I would have LOVED to be there but at the same time I was following my heart in India and knew that something truly special would emerge from being in India. And it did!