Being a Protea helped KC through lockdown
By Ruan Bruwer
Khanyisa Chawane in action for the Proteas at the 2019
Netball World Cup where she played in all eight their matches.
Photo: Reg Caldecott
Being unsure whether to stay or leave, Khanyisa Chawane (known as KC) is glad that she decided to leave England to spend the lockdown period with her family in Tzaneen.
“I don’t like exercising that much,
but realising the position that I am in,
I am kind of forced to wake up early
and do some training.”
—Khanyisa Chawane,
Protea Netball Player.
Chawane, a Protea netball player and the 2019 Kovsie Sportswoman of the Year, was playing in the Europe Superleague for the club Bath when the competition was suspended halfway through March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bath won all three of their first matches.
The best decision
“I was very uncertain; do I stay or go home (to South Africa). Perhaps this virus is just temporary, I thought at the time. It was quite sad – I just got there (in England) and was still adapting, still settling in. But it was the best decision,” she said.
Being a Protea player was an additional motivation for her to keep working hard during the lockdown.
“I don’t like exercising that much, but realising the position that I am in, I am kind of forced to wake up early and do some training. You do get days when you feel you are not going to get anywhere with it. You are training, but you don’t know if any netball will be played this year."
Perform for your country
“It’s very draining, but when you step onto the court in the end, you need to be able to perform for your country. There is always something to work on. Change your goal. Try to make it more personal, like ‘what can I improve for myself?’ Self-reflection helps with the motivation."
“It was also important during this time to take care of your mental health to be mentally and physically ready when netball returns.”
Chawane, who is still doing a Bachelor of Science (Geography and Agrometeorology) this year, said her time in England was “amazing”. “I got to experience something new overseas and met new people.”
Very draining to train, but not play, says Proteas netballer KC.