Kopua savours victory lap
Casey Kopua will not be walking away from netball entirely.
The Silver Ferns legend is bowing out of the sport she has played for 17 years, retiring from all forms of the game after the high of New Zealand’s World Cup triumph.
But the 34-year-old, who is working with the Netball WBOP zone, plans to stay involved in the sport in an off-court capacity as she wants to give back to the community that has supported her throughout her playing career.
‘‘I’m learning a bit of everything on the other side of the game but I’m really enjoying it and loving meeting all the people in our region,’’ she said.
‘‘I want to stay involved with netball, obviously it’s something I’ve been a part of for 17 years and I can’t throw that away.’’
Kopua was lapping up yesterday’s parliamentary reception, where the Silver Ferns were recognised for their heroics by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and hundreds of Wellington school students.
For the 112-cap veteran it was the perfect way to say goodbye to an international career that begun in 2005.
‘‘I’m finished. The girls are talking about yo-yos and fitness testing and everything that is coming up, and in my heart and in my stomach I know I’ve made the right decision,’’ she said.
‘‘I didn’t expect to be here a year ago, definitely not. But I couldn’t think of a better way to finish on my own terms, not being injured and not being told I probably should have left.’’
Kopua came out of retirement after answering an SOS from coach Noeline Taurua after the team’s disastrous Commonwealth Games campaign. Looking back on her return, which proved to be a masterstroke by Taurua, Kopua revealed there was some initial apprehension.
‘‘At the beginning and in some of the trainings and things like that I was thinking maybe I’m not quite up for this. But once I committed to it and my family was behind it 100 per cent, there was no way I wasn’t going over there [to the World Cup] without a medal.’’
After the low of missing out on a medal at the Commonwealth Games, Kopua felt New Zealand’s World Cup win has given the sport a much needed boost, and that was clear to see judging by the number of fans who attended yesterday’s reception, hoping to catch a glimpse of their idols.
‘‘It’s given the sport a new lease of life,’’ she said. ‘‘Obviously things weren’t that good not so long ago but it’s on a high and you just want to continue that. Everyone asks me if I’m off the high from the World Cup but I don’t think I am. Whenever you hear those words ‘world champion’ it brings back all those feelings.’’