Cape Town - South Africa's top women's hockey player, Pietie Coetzee, says the only way our female sports teams can become competitive is for them to turn professional.
"We must get salaries and more money must be granted to us," she told Beeld.
Coetzee, 33, who is the world record holder for the most international goals, says the changes need to take place before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The SA women's hockey team finished ninth at the recent Olympics in London.
She said it's tough for a female athlete to make a living out of sport in this country.
"Women's sports will have to be better managed and all ladies that want to make a living out of sport, will have to up their performance."
In June last year Coetzee became the all-time leading goal-scorer in women’s international hockey when she scored four goals against the USA during the Champions Challenge tournament in Dublin, Ireland, breaking Russian Natasha Keller’s previous record of 220 goals.
"We must get salaries and more money must be granted to us," she told Beeld.
Coetzee, 33, who is the world record holder for the most international goals, says the changes need to take place before the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The SA women's hockey team finished ninth at the recent Olympics in London.
She said it's tough for a female athlete to make a living out of sport in this country.
"Women's sports will have to be better managed and all ladies that want to make a living out of sport, will have to up their performance."
In June last year Coetzee became the all-time leading goal-scorer in women’s international hockey when she scored four goals against the USA during the Champions Challenge tournament in Dublin, Ireland, breaking Russian Natasha Keller’s previous record of 220 goals.