What do you do when you see someone else has less? If you’re Matthew Sanders, you rally an entire community to change that… one hockey stick at a time.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (30 July 2025) – Sometimes it’s the smallest things… a single ball, a battered stick, a barely-used hockey bag, that can create the biggest shift. And sometimes, it’s the smallest people in the biggest game who remind us why kindness still matters.
This week, the Good Things Guy team is celebrating Matthew Sanders, a Grade 12 learner from Ashton International College in Ballito, who quietly started something that could grow into a game-changer, both on and off the field.
Matthew, moved by the SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge’s drive to collect pre-loved equipment for players in under-resourced schools, took the initiative to do more. While most saw it as a side effort, Matthew saw an opportunity to get his entire community involved. He put out a heartfelt call on social media, asking for donations. And Salt Rock and Umhlali responded in the most incredible way. By the time the SPAR Grand Finals kicked off at St Mary’s DSG in Kloof this weekend, Matthew had collected a staggering 60 hockey sticks, 80 balls, and 5 hockey bags.
That’s not just gear, that’s access, confidence, community… and hope.
“You never quite know the ripple effect of giving, until you see the smiles, the gratitude, and the joy it brings,” says Les Galloway, Tournament Director. “We would like to thank every team that contributed to our drive, and especially this young man Matthew for his effort in bringing in this ‘haul’. It will make a real difference to aspiring hockey players.”
And this is where it really matters, even if you’ve never picked up a hockey stick in your life.
Because this isn’t just about sport.
This is about someone using what they have, where they are, to lift others up. It’s about understanding that your privilege can become someone else’s opportunity. It’s about creating access to something joyful in a world where joy can feel expensive. And it’s about reminding us all that real change doesn’t always need big money, big headlines, or big plans, it sometimes just needs a big heart.
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The SPAR KZN Schoolgirls’ Hockey Challenge, now in its 15th year, has become more than just a tournament. With teams from 10 regions across KwaZulu-Natal and a finals that wrapped up with St Mary’s DSG taking the title and Ashton College finishing a proud third, it’s a space that’s building skills, sportsmanship and solidarity.
And thanks to Matthew, it’s also building something even more powerful: equity.
So whether you’re into sport or not… this story is for you. It’s a reminder that good things can come from a simple act of kindness. That one person can move many. And that we all have something to give.
Even if it’s just an old stick.
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