Magic import shooter Lenize Potgieter has no desire to play for the Silver Ferns like the South African veterans before her
Goal shooter Lenize Potgieter has signed to the Southern Steel for 2019 Photo: Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz
Like the legends who travelled to New Zealand in search of greener netball pastures before her, Lenize Potgieter knew she was destined to play world-class netball.
Similarly former South African-born Silver Fern duo Irene van Dyk and Leana de Bruin found their stride at the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic - so to has Potgieter.
The 24-year-old is one of the most underrated shooters in the ANZ Premiership whose accuracy is on an equal 91 percent to that of statistics leader Aliyah Dunn.
Her journey to middle earth though was anything but the same as her fellow country-women.
Initially starting their careers playing in South Africa, it was former Australian coach Norma Plummer's influence as the Spar Proteas coach in 2014 that dramatically changed Potgieter's course.
"Norma Plummer said there's is a team in Bath in England that want me to play there for them so I did as part of the Vitality Superleague." says Potgieter.
"then Norma told me at the end of 2016 you are going to get an email from Marg at the Magic saying they might want you."
"Norma is just an amazing coach and I just couldn't see myself being coached by anyone else."
Potgieter shooting for the Spar Proteas against the Silver Ferns Photo: Photosport Ltd 2015 www.photosport.nz
Since taking over the shooting duties of English goal shooter Jo Harten at the Magic her inclusion into the competition has been seamless. Potgieter finished the inaugural ANZ Premiership season on equal shooting accuracy as Jamaican star Jhaniele Fowler-Reid at 92 percent.
When van Dyk and de Bruin became Silver Ferns there was a four year international stand-down period before switching allegiances which has since changed to eight, and although Potgieter's only desire is to wear the Magic's black dress, she doesn't hold anything against the veterans for choosing the fern.
"I love my green and gold dress. I will always return to South Africa and be available for them and I'll never stand-down a Commonwealth Games or World Cup to play for the Silver Ferns." says Potgieter
"For them it was a lifestyle choice and they were thinking about their families in terms of their safety and protection from crime and violence in South Africa."
"I am young and can travel around but for them it's more family orientated and professionally here they could get paid to play the sport they love."
The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic will be hoping their late surge of success in the ANZ Premiership will be enough to qualify for a looming finals season.
The Magic sit in the top four by a single point that a win tonight in Auckland would further solidify.
The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic will play the Northern Stars at Pulman Arena tonight to close round nine of the ANZ Premiership round at 7.40pm.
- RNZ
