Three years since making her childhood dream a reality, Kovsie alumna Dr Lizanne Pieterse is in high demand as a sports team doctor.
Dr Pieterse currently serves as the team doctor of the Southern Kings rugby team and is involved with the Warriors cricket team and Chippa United soccer team, all based in Port Elizabeth. She has also served in numerous capacities in the field of sports medicine and has been with a number of teams since starting with the Eastern Province U19 and U21 rugby teams in 2017.
She has worked at international cricket and rugby matches and was the concussion doctor at the International Sevens Tournament in Cape Town. Her husband, Barend, previously coached the Kings. He is a former Springbok rugby player.
“As a young girl I was always with my dad on the side of the rugby field or watching the early morning games on television with him. I always wanted to be the doctor on the side of the field.
“I think the dream definitely comes from loving sport and growing up in a family that enjoys sport. I love working in a team and learning from others,” she says.
Pieterse, or Doc Lizzy as she is known, initially started with Quantity Surveying at the University of the Free State in 2006. “Within my first semester, I realised that my love for medicine will always remain. I changed to medicine and completed my degree in 2011. I am passionate about sports medicine, especially concussion in sport.
“To one day run out onto the field with the Springboks as their team doctor, would really be a true honour and a dream come true.”
Pieterse is currently working on her master’s in Sports Medicine.