Former Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic shooter Irene van Dyk loomed larger than Ben Hur in the eyes of hundreds of young netballers on the opening day of NZCT Aims Games netball at Blake Park this week.
The Silver Ferns legend had the crowd in stitches at the opening ceremonyon Sunday night, helping to build a following that verged on movie star status by the time the first games tipped off on Monday morning.
It was Van Dyk's first Aims Games, and despite having a plane to catch, she patiently spent time chatting to the players and posing for photographs.
"This is my first time - I'm stunned that the whole world does not know about this," she said. "After watching the opening ceremony last night it is similar to the Commonwealth Games for intermediate schools. The whole concept is wonderful. To have all these different athletes at one venue playing the sports they love is fantastic.
"They are all very competitive and it's lovely to see all of them getting in there."
She said the spectacle was far removed from life growing up as an athlete in South Africa.
"No, we had nothing like this. One school would just play against another school, it was pretty much just domestic competitions.
"I love it, the kids are fantastic and love every minute out there. They get to meet people they'll probably never see in their life again, but they make a connection because they all love netball."
She was full of advice for the young athletes who trailed her like some real-life version of the Pied Piper. "It depends whether they have the support of their parents and their peers. That outside support helps keep the kids in there.
"Ultimately if you think you are good enough and you enjoy it, there is nothing and no one who will keep you away from it.
"Follow your dreams - have the courage to keep playing and make sure you enjoy whatever you do and one thing will flow to another."
In the end, Van Dyk was as reluctant to leave as the children were keen for her to stay. "See ya," she said as she made her escape, flanked by a generation of media savvy youngsters taking selfies as she went. "Bye," the adoring, shifting crowd replied in chorus.
