Rising SA hockey star Laiken Brisset targets big Nkosi Cup impact in Cape Town

RISING young South African women's hockey star Laiken Brisset, from La Lucia in Durban, is keen to bury the ghosts of a disappointing Indoor Hockey World Cup campaign earlier this year, with a maiden victory in next month's Nkosi Cup in Cape Town.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

The Tuks striker is only 21 but has already represented her country in two Indoor Hockey World Cups as she carves out a remarkable path in the sport.

Brisset's journey into hockey began somewhat unexpectedly for the eldest of three children.

"I started playing hockey when I was seven, in Grade 2. I actually didn't want to play sport at first; I wanted to be a model. I was a super-girlie girl," Brisset told Independent Media Sport exclusively.

Her mother, however, had other ideas, introducing her to netball and hockey, and she eventually joined a local club in primary school before earning a scholarship to Crawford International La Lucia, where she juggled hockey and netball in high school.

Her talent became evident early. By Grade 10, she was included in a camp for some of the nation's top under-16 talent that "opened my eyes to what the journey would be like in an SA environment".

She reflected on those early challenges with a laugh: "I was basically traumatised, but it was a good experience. I definitely didn't shy away from it."