By Sarah Burt
Sunday Aryang is in total disbelief as she prepares to represent Australia in the Commonwealth Games, and as the first ever African-born player to represent the Diamonds, the significance is not lost on her.
Born in Ethiopia, before arriving in Perth as a toddler with her parents, two sisters and brother, Aryang knows the opportunity to represent her country is about more than just her.
“For my parents especially, people at home are like, you brought your kids over to Australia and now look at them, they’re achieving crazy things that you wouldn't have thought would happen when you first came to Australia," she said.
The remainder of her extended family are still in Ethiopia, but are delighted from afar.
“My family and cousins are saying “you’re doing something crazy, you’re showing your talent but also being a role model for a lot of African and multicultural kids, you’re showing them they can do it” Aryang said.
'WHAT'S NETBALL?'
True to form, Aryang enthusiastically oscillates between exclamations of nerves and giggling with pure adrenalin, days before the Birmingham games begin.
Having made her debut in the Diamonds win against South Africa this year, the 21-year-old defender admits she wasn’t familiar with the sport until her hand was forced at school.
“I don’t think anyone in my family even knew what netball was, I didn't even know about it until a school carnival. They didn't have basketball so I just chose netball because it looked kind of similar,” she said.
Sunday Aryang only started playing netball because her school didn't have a basketball team. Although she quickly learnt the difference between the codes, she admits her family still struggle with it.
“Back home they still don't really understand the concept of netball, they’re not onto it just yet but they do know that I’m representing Australia, and they just think that’s amazing either way," she said.
“At first they were like, 'what’s netball?' and then they were telling people I'd made the basketball team, they keep saying 'basketball, basketball'.
“But I think they're just really excited that I’ve been able to achieve so much from that one big decision my parents made.”
That’s one constant in the conversation, Aryang’s infinite gratitude to her parents.
“The reason they brought us over was because we just couldn’t get an education as great as we can in Australia," she said.
“They also wanted to get away from all the conflict that was happening back home and give us the best chance."
Conscious of the polarity between her current life and that of those her age at home, Aryang acknowledges Australia has done exactly that for her.
“It's such a different life, a lot of the time women are staying home and having to raise kids and then finding jobs over there is difficult, it’s a big, big difference” she said.
THE CALL
Aryang's charisma is infectious, her recount of waiting for “the call” up to the Diamonds squad palpable.
“I was at home when I got the call, I remember forgetting about it in the week leading up and then it was the day before and I was like, I'm going to find out if I've made the team or not," she said.
“The night before I couldn’t even sleep properly I was just so nervous, then in the morning I had my phone stuck to me, I didn’t want to miss the call, I was so nervous I felt sick to be honest."
Having been given a sheet with call times, she knew when to expect news.
Sunday Aryang said she wants to do her family proud and thanked them for all the sacrifices they made for her. “I couldn’t do anything else, I just watched my phone, just to make sure when the call came I didn’t miss it," she said.
When Stacey's name finally flashed across her phone, she told herself, “okay, I'm ready. I'm ready. Don't cry. Don't cry".
“But as soon as I found out I was bawling my eyes out, I was laughing and then crying and going back and forth,” she laughed.
One tricky part of the process was having to keep the news to herself for a week while the team announcements took place.
“If I told my parents they would have wanted to tell all their friends, so I just told my sisters and they were able to keep it a secret," she said.
As Aryang prepares to take the court in Birmingham the enormity of the situation is sinking in.
“I’m just mind blown. To have the opportunity to play with the best netballers in Australia and compete against the best in the world, I'm honoured they’ve chosen me to represent Australia,” she said.
“I learn so much every day from being around the girls, being coached by Stacey and Richo. There’s so much that I get out of it.
“When I put my uniform on it's just crazy, sometimes when I think about it I can’t believe it’s real.”
ABOUT SUNDAY
Name: Sunday Aryang
Positions: GD, WD
Game day pump up song: Hips Don't Lie - Shakira
Game day breakfast: Scrambled eggs and beans on toast or peanut butter toast
