van Dyk: ‘we will be loud and proud’
Netball New Zealand ambassador and Silver Ferns legend Irene van Dyk knows first-hand what it’s like to perform on Netball’s biggest stage having been to five Netball World Cups. In fact this will be the first time in 16 years that the Silver Ferns will enter the sport’s pinnacle event without her, after she retired from international competition in 2014.
“Knowing that there’s only 1 sleep to go they will just want to get it underway. They are so ready, they’ve done the hard yards, they’ve done all the training, they will just want to go out there and start playing and get into the competition,” van Dyk said.
“The cream of the crop is here and this is where you showcase what you’ve got and how well you’ve prepared.
“This is the moment every netballer lives for – to represent their country at a Netball World Cup. If it’s your first or your fifth, it just gets more and more exciting.”
She says the moment the players stand arm-in-arm for the national anthem on day one is “goose bump material”.
“The most special moment is when you hear the national anthem because you know you are one of 12 players representing that particular country,” she said.
“There’s not a lot of people who have that opportunity and I think that’s why our girls will come out firing; they will play with passion and commitment because they only have one shot at this.”
Van Dyk is in Sydney with House of Travel – the Silver Ferns official tour partner – and will be joined by thousands of fans, and many Silver Ferns legends including Dame Lois Muir, who have travelled over as part of the tour.
“The girls will see a sea of black in the stadium. Every single person that I’ve spoken to are behind our Silver Ferns 100%,” van Dyk said.
“We will pass every pass with them, defend every ball – we are right there behind them all the way. We will be as loud and proud as we can be.”
Fans can catch all the action from Netball World Cup SYDNEY 2015 live on SKY Sport 4 (check your local guides).
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