Name: Rick van Niekerk
Position: Goalie
Currently playing at: Amsterdam Lions
Played at: Amsterdam Lions
Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? What do you do in daily life? When did you start playing lacrosse?
I started playing lacrosse about five years ago. At that time I just came out of a football (soccer) career at semi-pro level and was looking for a change in sports activity. Lacrosse ticked all the boxes. The physical, team and tactical aspects of the game grabbed me. In daily life I am an online producer at the RTL Group, currently living in Amsterdam.
Congratulations with your spot on the team! What was the first thing you did when you heard?
Happy dance and then a workout.
What are you most looking forward to in Denver?
The ambiance. Being able to play on the World stage is a dream, one that will come true. Combine that with being able to interact and play against lacrosse players from all over the World.
What are your expectations for Denver?
I am expecting that we will have a competitive squad that will be able to perform at this level. We will bring the Orange and make it shine like never before.
How do you interpret “Destination Denver and Beyond”?
Destination Denver is a project within the greater scheme of things within Dutch Lacrosse. Not only are we showcasing the sport in our country, we also aim at growing the sport and to let youngsters have a taste of what should become one of the five main sports in The Netherlands. Hopefully we will be able to create some traction with a good performance at the World Cup in Denver this summer and inspire others to do the same.
