104 Tests for the Silver Ferns, 34 for South Africa: Leana de Bruin’s Story

So you're quite a goal-driven person?

Very much so.

So this started back making the bees, I guess, is it?

Yeah, I think so.

I think, you know, I was like, okay – I obviously loved it, and then I've always wanted to be the best for some reason.

It's just, I don't know why, maybe it came from my brothers telling me to run as fast as I could to go and get them a cup of tea.

But, yeah, since I remember, I've loved running, and I just, yeah,

it makes me happy.

So the South African netball, I guess back then, was it strong as a sport?

95 was strong.

It was the first time South Africa actually were allowed to play international.

And I think we were just the surprise factor.

And obviously Irene was in that 95 team that beat New Zealand.

If I say that, people get a little bit twitchy still.

But then after that, you know, we didn't have a league – kind of like a professional one, like not that netball was professional as much as it is now in New Zealand either, but at least they had like the Coca-Cola Cup back then.

And, you know, that was quite an intense competition to be part of and hence the reason why they obviously, some of the top players played in it.

Yeah.

So, you know, making the South African team and coming to New Zealand and to Christchurch for the world champs, was that an opportunity to, I guess, open up the world to you or around?

Yeah, I remember 95, I was in the lounge with my mum and we were watching the World Cup and obviously first time that we got exposed to the game we love on TV, a big deal in the free state.

And watching it and I sat on the couch and I looked at my mum and I said, in 1995, I'll be in that team.

And I could see my mum go, whatever.

But that was me, and Dad would – I think his way of encouraging me was always to tell me that you can't – whatever, you can't do it.

I'm like, I'll show you, you know, and obviously it worked for me.

So, yeah, I just remember 95 sitting there going, I'll be in that next World Cup, and, yeah, worked hard to get there.

And so at that time that you would have been saying that – You're still at high school? Yeah.

So you're quite a goal-driven person?

Very much so.

So this started back making the bees, I guess, is it?

Yeah, I think so.

I think, you know, I was like, okay – I obviously loved it, and then I've always wanted to be the best for some reason.

It's just, I don't know why, maybe it came from my brothers telling me to run as fast as I could to go and get them a cup of tea.

But, yeah, since I remember, I've loved running, and I just, yeah,

it makes me happy.

So the South African netball, I guess back then, was it strong as a sport?

95 was strong.

It was the first time South Africa actually were allowed to play international.

And I think we were just the surprise factor.

And obviously Irene was in that 95 team that beat New Zealand.

If I say that, people get a little bit twitchy still.

But then after that, you know, we didn't have a league – kind of like a professional one, like not that netball was professional as much as it is now in New Zealand either, but at least they had like the Coca-Cola Cup back then.

And, you know, that was quite an intense competition to be part of and hence the reason why they obviously, some of the top players played in it.

Yeah.

So, you know, making the South African team and coming to New Zealand and to Christchurch for the world champs, was that an opportunity to, I guess, open up the world to you or around?

Yeah, I remember 95, I was in the lounge with my mum and we were watching the World Cup and obviously first time that we got exposed to the game we love on TV, a big deal in the free state.

And watching it and I sat on the couch and I looked at my mum and I said, in 1995, I'll be in that team.

And I could see my mum go, whatever.

But that was me, and Dad would – I think his way of encouraging me was always to tell me that you can't – whatever, you can't do it.

I'm like, I'll show you, you know, and obviously it worked for me.

So, yeah, I just remember 95 sitting there going, I'll be in that next World Cup, and, yeah, worked hard to get there.

And so at that time that you would have been saying that – You're still at high school? Yeah.