When Boebie and Rhazia Hamza welcomed their second child, Malikah, into the world 12 years ago, they had no idea she would one day conquer the sports field.
The gifted little sport star from Kensington excels at cricket, hockey and water polo, and is the only female cricketer in the world to be sponsored by British sportswear giant Slazenger.
The little dynamo hasn’t played in her own age group since she was nine, and made the under 11, 12 and 13 Western Province indoor hockey teams in 2014.
She was also selected for the WP U16 hockey team this year.
Malikah’s goals are clear - she tells the Daily Voice she wants to become one of the best hockey and cricket players in South Africa before she reaches matric, and she wants to represent the country at the junior Olympic Games in 2018.
Malikah was offered a full bursary at Reddam House school in Durbanville after teachers spotted her tearing up the field for Central Hockey Club last year.
The sports star has scored a total of 210 hockey goals this year and 863 career goals since she started playing the sport four years ago.
And the Grade 6 learner says she has found the perfect balance between school and sport.
It does help that Reddam House does not believe in giving kids homework!
Malikah explains: “I have school cricket practice on a Monday and a Wednesday, club cricket practice on Tuesday and Thursday, and I play school cricket matches as well. Then on a Saturday and Sunday I have club cricket matches, so I’m only off on a Friday.”
She also plays water polo and hockey when cricket season ends.
On her off days, Malikah likes to spend time with her family, and enjoys challenging her older brother to a Fifa match on her XBox.
“And if there are any hockey games on at Central Hockey club, I like going to watch those games.”
Claude Strauss, Head of Sport at Reddam Prep, says Malikah is the school’s top goal scorer: “Malikah is a superstar, she excels at every sport she plays. When it comes to team sports she is a huge asset, scoring most of the goals”.
Malikah’s role models are her dad and her cousin, Cobras cricketer Zubayr Hamza.
Boebie, who is a popular playwright and coach, shows an excel spreadsheet he uses to record his daughters goals.
“Malikah has a gift that South Africans have not seen since the likes of Herschelle Gibbs or AB de Villiers. We have embraced her gift and I’m proud she is so humble, even after all the accolades she’s received.”