Swan wants to gain from pain

THE pain of losing a final can be unbearable but Danie Swan is determined to gain from the hurt of losing in a World Cup decider.

Zimbabwe suffered an 18-29 defeat in a polocrosse World Cup final at the hands of neighbours South Africa in the UK in 2011.

It was Swan’s maiden World Cup appearance and the 28-year-old would like to go an extra step and clinch the title at the next Polocrosse World Cup in Australia in 2019.

“I have realised that it is what you put in that makes the difference in the end,” he said. “It was my first World Cup and I learnt a lot. I would love to play for Zimbabwe again in the 2019 World Cup in Australia. We can put together a great team for it. It is a goal of mine to make this side and do Zimbabwe proud.”

Swan, who has seven international caps, is one of Zimbabwe’s leading players as seen by his performance during the only test series of the year against New Zealand in Harare in July.

He was voted the Most Valuable Player after inspiring Zimbabwe to a 3-0 whitewash.

“It is an incredible honour to represent your country and you always strive to do your best,” he said.

“To actually achieve best man in an international test series is an incredible feeling. You feel that all your time and hard work has paid off.”

The Borrowdale Polocrosse Club player visualises for half an hour before matches and it works for him.

“Mentally I take 30 minutes a day to myself visualising and telling myself my goals for the tests while practicing stick work,” he said.

The former St John’s College pupil grew up on a farm in Mutoroshanga and was taught the game by his father.