Not that it is always easy. The past Sunday she only arrived back at home in Johannesburg after nine at night having competed for two days in the National Beach Volleyball League in Durban. At seven the next morning she was back at work at the Tambo Memorial Hospital in Boksburg.
Springer and her teammate, Manana Mosia, can qualify for the semi-finals as they won three of the four games played so far. However, this weekend is going to be tough. According to Springer, they will be facing three of the best teams.
One cannot help to wonder why a medical doctor is prepared to sacrifice so much to play a sport in which there is nothing but honour at stake.
For Springer, it is no brainer. She is addicted to playing volleyball. To her, it is the sport of all sports.
“I love playing volleyball as for me it encompasses so many true values of life. Like teamwork, biding your time, strategising, handling pressure etc. For me beach volleyball is a sport where I just can be myself. It makes me happy.”
A definite highlight for Springer was when she got to represent South Africa in 2016 at Zone Six Tournament in Namibia. She and her teammate lost out in the final to another South African team.
Joining the TuksVolleyball Club in 2013 and helping them to become one of South Africa’s top club teams is also special.
“I never got to hold the Varsity Trophy, but at the end of the day, I would like to think that as one of the club’s senior players I have in some small way helped to pave the road to last year’s success. It was amazing to see the Tuks team lift the trophy at the Varsity Tournament,” said Springer who was part of the Tuks team that finished second in 2015 and 2016.
Like many athletes, Springer also dreams of representing South Africa at major international tournaments, but she has sort of made peace with the fact that it probably never will happen.
“For me to be truly competitive at an international level means I will have to resign my job. That is not an option as you cannot make a living from playing beach volleyball in South Africa. But the dream remains. If an opportunity presents itself, I will take it.”
For now, she is happy to be playing in the National Volleyball League jetting off on Friday afternoons and returning late Sunday evenings.
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