A recent graduate of Stellenbosch University (SU) is training for the South African (SA) Olympic hockey team trials while completing his law articles.
Keenan Horne, who graduated cum laude with an LLM in March, is working at Mostert and Bosman Attorneys in Bellville and training at the Central Hockey Club in Athlone. He is being coached by Bruce Jacobs, a former South African men’s hockey team captain and Olympian, according to Horne.
Keenan Horne training for the 2021 Olympic hockey team trials. PHOTO: Tina Ddamulira
“Keenan has a lot of leadership characteristics. This is the reason why he made the leadership role in the national side, and is a leader in our first team,” said Jacobs. Horne has been the vice-captain of the SA hockey team since 2018, and is co-captain at the Central Hockey Club, according to Jacobs.
Keenan Horne playing hockey at the Central Hockey Club in Athlone. PHOTO: Tina Ddamulira
Horne was meant to play hockey overseas last year, but those plans were postponed due to Covid-19, according to Horne. He had hoped to play overseas in February of this year, but was prevented from travelling when the second wave of Covid-19 hit Europe, added Horne.
The postponement of his plans to play overseas helped him make a decision on his future, Horne told MatieMedia. “So I find myself doing my articles now and I’m enjoying it. I will definitely revisit that opportunity once I’m done,” said Horne.
One of the conditions on which Horne began his articles with Mostert and Bosman Attorneys this year, was that he would be able to take leave from work when pursuing his sporting ambitions. “They were happy to make arrangements to accommodate me,” said Horne.
“The fact that Horne might be chosen for the Olympic Team, and that he is vice-captain of the SA team, is something that most people can only dream of,” said Johann Steyn, an attorney at Mostert and Bosman Attorneys who is involved in the recruitment process for candidate legal practitioners. “We believe that people should have goals and therefore we will assist him in reaching it,” he added.
In order to balance the pursuit of a legal career with his sporting ambitions, Horne often leaves home at 05:30 and arrives home at 21:30. This has been quite an adjustment, but he finds it worth his efforts, according to Horne.
Keenan Horne explains how he balances the pursuit of a legal career with a sporting career.