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.

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.”

Despite the disruption of Covid-19, Brisset pressed on. She played her first outdoor Interprovincial Tournament (IPT) in matric, even managing her English and physics finals alongside it.

“I look back at that and think, ‘What was I thinking?” she said, chuckling.

Her dedication earned her a sports bursary to the University of Pretoria, where she has one year left to complete her Honours degree in financial management science.

Brisset’s international rise has been swift and impressive. She earned her senior indoor cap in 2022 in Namibia, making her debut alongside her close friend, Cerian Fourie. 

“It was such an incredible feeling to have my parents watching, and the group of girls was amazing. Not everyone gets a glamorous debut, and I feel I got one.”

Her first Indoor World Cup appearance was in 2023 in South Africa, where the SA side just missed out on a bronze medal. They struggled to reach those heights at this year’s World Cup in Porec, however.  

“The build-up was a bit shaky because we lost against Namibia in the 2024 Nkosi Cup and I think spirits were low. We were in such a tough pool, including Poland and Thailand, and weren’t able to show the character to pull things together,” she said.

The SA side now has the opportunity to make amends for that result that derailed their World Cup preparations when they face Australia, New Zealand, Namibia and Zimbabwe in Cape Town from December 12-16.

“Other than Namibia, Australia might be our biggest rival. They have a press I’ve never seen before, something I only experienced at the World Cup,”  said Brisset, who was named Indoor Player of the Tournament at the IPT earlier this year.

She credits the connection with teammates as a major factor in potentially achieving success in their home tournament at the third time of asking, pointing to the Cassiem brothers, Dayaan and Mustapha, as examples of how long-standing partnerships can pay dividends on the field. The dual-format stars of the men’s national team helped lead SA to a first-ever medal at the Indoor World Cup in Croatia and are stalwarts of the outdoor team.  

That is something the versatile Brisset – who has the ability to play as a striker, defender or midfielder – would love to emulate. 

“One of my main goals is to be part of the squad for next year’s outdoor World Cup in August. It will be tough – the team is experienced and talented – but I’m ready to put in the work,” she said.

For a young athlete who once dreamt of modelling rather than hockey, Brisset has shown remarkable adaptability, talent, and determination. As she prepares to take the court at the Wynberg Military Base in Cape Town, her trajectory suggests she could become one of South African hockey’s standout players for years to come.