George conquers State Wars

Brian Sobel At the age of five, George Tjaahapi from Mondesa was introduced to inline skating through his physiotherapist Lizette Traut. George had broken his elbow and was referred to inline hockey to help with his mobility. He describes the feeling of skating for the first time as floating or flying. “You move like the wind,” he says with a big smile. George was a natural skater and in a short time began to learn how to play inline hockey. His club is the Coastal Pirates of Swakopmund. The Pirates knew there was something special about George from his first day. He is a great athlete and picked up the sport with ease - though ease comes from hard work and sacrifice. George skates four times a week during most weeks. Over the past few years, George, now 11, quickly became one of the top players in the country in his age division (10 and under) and is electric when he is on the court. Every time George touches the puck, you feel that he can score. In 2018 the Namibian Ice and Inline Hockey Association (NIIHA) held trials for youth teams that would go to America to compete in a 300-team tournament called State Wars. A hopeful George attended the trials and through his play was able to secure spots in two of the teams going overseas - the 2008 and the 2007 teams, classified by the birth years. George was super-excited to have made the teams and everyone wanted to see this happen for him. Over the past six years, the Coastal Pirates have supported and sponsored George with rink time and when they could afford to, hockey equipment. However, the price tag for the overseas trip was over N$50 000 per player. The Pirates, a non-profit organisation, could not afford to pay for the trip. And so began the long journey to help George go to State Wars in America. The team management began to contact businesses and were able to collect a small portion of the money needed. The Namibia Sports Commission (NSC) was contacted, but was unable to help. George and his mother did lots of fundraising with the other players and raised a small portion themselves. Additionally, several private individuals donated money so that George could go and represent his country in the sport he loves. It took nearly six months, but the goal of raising the money became a reality three weeks prior to George leaving for America. George arrived in America, Fort Wayne in Indiana to be exact, and was so impressed with how green everything is. There was tall trees and green grass as far as you can see. George was in America for nearly two weeks and besides playing hockey was also able to visit a zoo, play laser tag, watch a movie, visit an ice rink and skate and take a tour of the Chicago Blackhawks training facility.He also did lots of other team activities with the rest of the Namibians. George explains that his favourite part of America, besides the hockey, was the zoo. Being from Swakopmund, George rarely sees so many animals in one place and really enjoyed just sitting and watching them move around and play. As for ice skating, says it’s just very cold.George says he got goosebumps when he first put on his Namibian jersey and could feel the excitement growing in him for the games that would follow. George’s 2008 and 2007 teams both did very well; so well, in fact, that they won gold medals. George came to the party at State Wars, finishing third in scoring for both his teams, and being named as part of the State Wars All-Star team in both divisions. George’s hockey highlights, according to him, are playing and beating Korea and the 2008 team’s championship game against Colombia. With the game tied 2-2, George was given a penalty shot when the opposition tripped him. George scored and the place erupted. His goal sealed Colombia’s fate and gave Namibia the win.But perhaps the greatest moment in the entire tournament for George was meeting with National Hockey League (NHL) star Pat Maroon. Maroon plays for the St Louis Blues and his team won the Stanley Cup, which is the NHL championship trophy, in 2019. Maroon was at State Wars with his family and was coaching his son, who was in the same age division as George. Maroon had seen George play and was impressed with his playing ability and had heard of what an ordeal it was getting George to America for State Wars. The hockey family worldwide is quite generous and regularly reaches out to less fortunate players and families and try to make a difference where they can. Maroon is no exception, and after hearing about George, asked if he could meet him. George and Maroon met at the arena in a private office with the NHL star’s family and Namibia’s coach and Traut also present.They had a few nice moments as they talked. George was mostly shy and it didn’t help that Maroon stands just over two meters tall. After their discussion, Maroon asked George about his hockey equipment, which is mostly second-hand gear. Maroon asked George if he would like to go shopping with him and buy him some new gear. George smiled. Everyone went to the hockey store located in the arena and a Maroon and George shopping spree began. New sticks, elbow pads, gloves, shin pads, under-armour, socks, padded pants, tape and a hockey bag was bought for George. Two days earlier Tour had sponsored George with new skates, and two days prior to that, Pirates sponsored George with a new pair of skates as well.Maroon’s kindness and generosity did not stop with buying George new gear. He showed up for George’s last three games and talked with George after each game. At the end of the tournament George and Maroon’s son exchanged jerseys. George wears the Maroon jersey every day during training now. George has written to Maroon since returning from America and will continue to do so, as will the NHL star. George says he will never forget Maroon and his family and will work hard to hopefully get a chance to see them all again. You can search the internet and see countless stories about professional athletes helping kids out and giving them opportunities that may not have come to them otherwise. These selfless acts are examples that bring out the best in all of us. It’s such an amazing and small world, where an NHL player from America, such as Maroon, and a Namibian boy such as George can meet and find common ground in a sport they both love, and in the end, find themselves a new friend. The kindness and generosity shown to George has not been lost on him. At times he has trouble wrapping his head around the entire experience and at times he just says: “God bless Pat.”George’s list of sponsors for the trip is long and we would like to thank all of them: Blue Sea Fishing Company, Damarana Safaris, Rössing Uranium: Julia Kamatoto, Medicor Pharmacy, Advanced Car Hire/Damon Car Hire, Villa Margherita, Dr Meintjies, Dr Stephan van der Merwe, Issy Karaeru, Weimann’s Carpentry and Rudi van der Plas.

George conquers State Wars

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Republikein 2025-09-19

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George conquers State Wars

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