Jonathan Mokuena and Ernie Kruger - Faith, Reinvention, and Life After Rugby

Jonathan Mokuena and Ernie Kruger - Faith, Reinvention, and Life After Rugby

What happens when the biggest decision of your life looks completely irrational to everyone around you? Former professional rugby players Jonathan Mokuena and Ernie Kruger share how faith, identity and purpose shaped the defining moments of their lives. From walking away from rugby dreams to rebuilding life in America, this conversation explores what it really means to succeed when success is no longer measured by status, titles or recognition. If you're an entrepreneur, leader, immigrant or anyone facing a difficult life decision, this episode offers practical wisdom on navigating uncertainty with conviction. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Decision That Changed Everything 01:12 Meet Jonathan & Ernie 04:18 Favourite Rugby Memories 08:05 Walking Away From Rugby 14:36 Hearing "Turn Around" 19:42 Starting Again in America 27:18 The Four Stages of Immigration 35:10 Identity Beyond Sport 43:52 Confronting Racism 52:15 Faith During Uncertainty 01:01:40 Leadership Through Obedience 01:09:12 Final Reflections Winning The Away Game is brought to you by The Lekker Network. The Lekker Network brings together South Africa’s top entrepreneurs, executives, innovators, and everyday people from all over the world to connect, engage, support, do business with each other, and create lasting impact. Find out more at https://thelekkernetwork.com/ [https://thelekkernetwork.com/] Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 [https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716] Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 [https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584] Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/] Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/] Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ [https://wtagpodcast.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast] Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/] Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/ [https://www.pingproductions.net/]

Keegan Daniel and Sven Boermeester - Turning Networks Into Impact

This episode is for athletes, founders, operators, South Africans abroad, and anyone trying to turn credibility into something useful after the spotlight moves on. Keegan Daniel shares the hard reality of life after professional rugby: identity, purpose, financial planning, and the uncomfortable question of what value you can offer once the title no longer opens doors. Sven Boermeester brings the global builder’s view, showing how South African networks around the world can become more than nostalgia — they can become engines for opportunity, jobs, capital, and impact. Together, Keegan and Sven unpack the real away game: starting over, building pathways, using networks properly, and creating systems that help other people win. 00:00 Introduction 02:33 Favourite Springbok memories 05:40 Eastern Cape rugby and hidden talent 09:23 Keegan Daniel’s unusual pathway to Durban 10:30 Sven Boermeester’s global publishing journey 14:26 Captaining the Sharks and proving people wrong 16:34 Self-belief, arrogance, and controlling the controllables 19:14 The South African network advantage 21:20 The Dubai story that changed everything 26:22 How Winning The Away Game became a book 29:24 Japan, the Sharks, and knowing when to leave 34:01 The identity crisis after professional sport 47:27 What Keegan would tell his 20-year-old self 49:35 Building a South Africa that works for everyone 58:04 Diaspora, jobs, and bringing value home 01:01:23 Alumni networks and stories beyond the gates 01:06:47 Final question and World Cup hopes Winning The Away Game is brought to you by The Lekker Network. The Lekker Network brings together South Africa’s top entrepreneurs, executives, innovators, and everyday people from all over the world to connect, engage, support, do business with each other, and create lasting impact. Find out more at https://thelekkernetwork.com/ Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/

Adriaan Strauss and Stephan Weyers - How Hard Work Compounds

This episode isn’t about what happens after success. It’s about what you do while you’re in it. Adriaan Strauss was building businesses while playing at the highest level. Stephan Weyers started as a mascot—and never stopped stacking opportunities until he built a high-performance coaching business. Two completely different journeys. One shared principle: they never waited. If you're a founder, operator, or athlete, this episode will challenge how you think about timing, effort, and long-term success. Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 Connect with Justinus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ Connect with Flip: https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/

Ollie le Roux and Jan Pieterse - What Happens After The Cheering Stops?

In this episode of Winning The Away Game, Justinus Adriaanse and Flip van der Merwe sit down with Jan Pieterse and Ollie le Roux to explore life beyond elite performance. From Springbok rugby and international athletics to business leadership and coaching, this conversation dives into the uncomfortable transition from being known for what you do to discovering who you are. If you're a founder, executive, athlete, or anyone navigating change, this episode offers practical lessons on resilience, reinvention, work ethic, and building a meaningful second act. CHAPTERS Winning The Away Game is brought to you by The Lekker Network. The Lekker Network brings together South Africa’s top entrepreneurs, executives, innovators, and everyday people from all over the world to connect, engage, support, do business with each other, and create lasting impact. Find out more at https://thelekkernetwork.com/ [https://thelekkernetwork.com/] Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 [https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716] Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 [https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584] Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/] Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/] Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ [https://wtagpodcast.com/] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast [https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast] Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/] Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/ [https://www.pingproductions.net/]

Pat Symcox and Desmond Denton - Reinventing Yourself Without Losing Who You Are

What happens when the identity you’ve spent decades building suddenly changes? In this episode of Winning The Away Game, Justinus and Flip are joined by former South African international cricketer, Pat Symcox, and filmmaker, Desmond Denton, for a powerful conversation about identity, community, immigration, purpose, and reinvention. From Pat’s extraordinary decision to risk his career to play for South Africa, to Desmond’s journey of building a new life in America, this episode explores what happens when success, location, profession, and even community are stripped away. If you’re a founder, leader, expatriate, athlete, or anyone navigating major life transitions, this conversation offers a practical and deeply human perspective on starting over without losing yourself. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Favourite Springbok Memories 04:40 Pat’s Hospital Management Career 08:20 Retiring From Cricket… Again 12:15 The Path Back to Professional Cricket 15:20 The Decision That Changed Everything 18:40 Identity Beyond Your Career 21:20 Moving to America and Starting Over 23:00 The Importance of Community 26:10 South Africa, Adversity and Growth 30:30 How to Build a New Community 32:20 The Challenge of Reinventing Yourself 37:30 Success, Identity and Mental Health 53:00 Staying Present Under Pressure 01:05:00 Life Lessons and Final Reflections Listen on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/26fB2unP9Ih6IA3QkjnGQF?si=4b4380f24a144716 Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/winning-the-away-game/id1853818584 Connect with Justinus:https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinusadriaanse/ Connect with Flip:https://www.linkedin.com/in/flipvandermerwe/ Check out our other channels: Website: https://wtagpodcast.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/winning-the-away-game-podcast/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wtag_podcast/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wtag_podcast Winning The Away Game is produced by Jonathan Warncke Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%8E%99-jonathan-warncke-45b2095/ Ping Productions: https://www.pingproductions.net/