The Beko Netball League is the development competition running alongside the ANZ Premiership. The league consists of 31 games run over 13 weekends, culminating in a Grand Final in Auckland on 18 June. A number of secondary school netballers are involved in one of the six teams and College Sport Media is profiling some of these players. Danielle Tafili is one of four secondary school players in this year’s 16-strong Netball Central squad. Central qualified top for the Grand Final with two matches to spare. She has been training hard with the squad since the start of the year, while she’s also talented volleyball player and made the tournament team at the 2016 NZSS tournament. Name: Danielle Tafili Beko Netball League Team: Central School: Sacred Heart College, Lower Hutt What positions do you play? Goal Keep / Goal Defence At what age, and how did you become involved in netball? I became involved in netball when I was 5. My mum encouraged me to play. She also volunteered to coach my school team as there was no coach at the time. She coached me throughout my primary and intermediate days as our school went from years 1-8. What are your earliest memories of playing and what is your playing background? My earliest memories of playing netball were in primary/intermediate where I grew up playing alongside Renee Savaiinaea [Beko teammate and St Mary’ College]. We’ve been playing together ever since primary and to this very day which I find special. We’ve always played in the defence circle together. I remember being invited to PIC training when it was my last year in intermediate, where I also met Tiana Metuarau [Beko/Pulse and WEGC]. However when I was at college I decided to then join the club competition and play for PIC to better my game. Over the past few years I’ve been at PIC I’ve been so lucky to have amazing coaches such as Waimarama Taumaunu who have expanded my knowledge of this game and have always trained me and the girls at a high level. It was a huge step from playing school girls netball into playing club level and realised that it is a much more physical game, which I love. Favourite on-court netball moment or highlight in your career thus far? The highlight of my netball career would be making the Aotearoa Maori Secondary Schools team in 2016. This was because ever since then, I grew a passion for netball and realised I wasn’t too bad at after all. After getting named MVP for my team at the inter-national secondary schools tournament really pushed me to train harder so I could make other teams this year such as the Central Beko Team. What challenges and rewards are there for you training and playing in the Beko League, with and against all the aspiring elite level players? What I find challenging is trying to balance my school work as well as playing/training for netball as netball probably takes up majority of my time throughout the week, it is very full on. I found that since I’ve been in this Beko team I’ve been so lucky to have trained alongside the Pulse who have helped me with my defensive game giving me advice and tips. Also, playing against them has always been a challenge for me as I would usually be up against Catherine Tuivaiti, Tiana and Te Amorangi. I personally think it’s awesome being a part of this team as we are all supportive of each other and I’m truly grateful for this opportunity. Will you also be playing for your school team this year and if so what’s coming up with them that you will be playing in and striving for? Since this is my last year I’ll be playing for school because I’ve never been to the Lower North Islands or Nationals as I’ve been playing club since I was year 10. I’m looking forward to the school experience and playing with my age group. I believe our school team is striving to make Nationals this year as we’ve missed out on previous years at Lower Norths. Tell us a bit more about your club and competition? This would be my third/fourth year playing for PIC. Throughout the years I’ve been at PIC I’ve gained so much knowledge about the game (still got a lot to improve on) and honoured to have such amazing coaches with great experience. Every year we always enter in the Super Club Tournament held in Palmerston North. This year would’ve been the fourth year in a row we’ve won this tournament. Our main competition which we are involved in is the Netball Wellington Centre competitions, which are the games we play on Saturdays. Who are your favourite netballers? To be honest I don’t really have a favourite netball player but I would say Katrina Grant and Phoenix Karaka as they’re my favourite defenders in the ANZ competition and also from Pulse who I support 100%. Do you have a motto or saying you live you or that motivates you? Family motivates me to play better. What are your pre-game rituals? I find this weird but I always have to put on my left shoe before my right. It’s just an automatic thing I do. What other team/individual sports do you play? Volleyball has always been a sport I would say I play at a high level. Even though I didn’t make the NZ team I would say I represented Wellington and played for an Oceania Club where they are looking for players to represent their own countries/cultures, for example Samoa, Cook Islands etc. Since I made the Beko team I decided to focus on netball and give up volley until netball season is over. This was a hard decision as I love volleyball just as much as netball. What subjects do you take at school and do you know what you’ll be doing/studying next year? I take SUS, English, Maths, Religious Studies, (which is compulsory at our school because I attend a Catholic school) Physical Education and Maori. University hasn’t been on my mind lately but if I was to go I would study criminology as I want to become a Policewoman later on in my career. Who are your greatest supporters? A shout-out to my parents who have always backed me in whatever decision I made and who have been my day one supporters since I started netball. Also to my club coaches who have trained me each week especially on fitness and skills which has helped me expand my knowledge about netball. Also to Natalie my Beko coach who has given up her time and moved away from her family just to coach me and the girls so we could succeed this year. Also would like to thank her for giving me this opportunity to be in this team and to even get court time as I had no expectations of me even making the team this year. A big thank you to all the other coaches who have coached me throughout the years I’ve been playing netball and to the players who I have come across to make me a better player! New Zealand has named a 12-strong team to defend their title at Netball World Youth Cup Gaborone 2017 (NWYC2017), July 8-16. Headlining the list of names are Silver Ferns Maia Wilson and Kelly Jury, along with a host of players who have had standout ANZ Premiership and Beko Netball League seasons. Michaela Sokolich-Beatson will captain the side, with Charlotte Elley named vice-captain. Coach Kiri Wills says it has been a tough selection process with all players in the squad stepping up, but the 12 selected have the edge and x-factor required. “We’ve seen some amazing performances in the ANZ Premiership particularly. The players have shown that they can stand up and that they can be tough – and we’re going to need tough,” Wills said. “We’ve picked a team that gives us a lot of variety, particularly at either end of the court. We’ve got holding shooters, moving shooters, we’ve got defenders who can play space and play tight man, and so we can mix it up and really use our game plans to our advantage.” Since the first NWYC in 1988, the NZU21s team has gone on to win Gold on three occasions (1992, 2005 and 2013). They are the reigning world champions having defeated Australia, 52-47, in 2013. “It’s a great position for us to be in. Generally we’ve been going in as underdogs, but it’s a good challenge to be the defending champions,” Wills said. “We’ll be fighting for every inch on the court. Gaborone will be an exciting place to play; there are some huge mountains to climb for this team, but I’m confident that they’ve got the will and the guts to follow that through.” The NZU21s will depart New Zealand on Monday 3 July where they will continue their preparations in Johannesburg, South Africa, before arriving in Gaborone for the start of NWYC2017. They have been drawn in Pool A against Sri Lanka, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Samoa, with their first match against Northern Ireland at 8am (local time), Saturday 8 July. NZU21s team – NWYC2017: NAMEPOSITIONSTEAM (ANZ Premiership &/or Beko Netball League) Aliyah Dunn GS/GANetball South / Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel Charlotte Elley (VC)C/WD/WASilvermoon Tactix Abby Erwood GK/GDAscot Park Hotel Southern Steel Monica Falkner GA/GSWBOP Magic Fa’amu Ioane WA/C/WD/GDNorthern Stars Kelly Jury GK WBOP Magic Kate LloydGKHellers Netball Mainland / Silvermoon Tactix Tiana Metuarau GA/GSTe Wānanga O Raukawa Pulse Kimiora Poi C/WANetball Central / Te Wānanga O Raukawa Pulse Mila Reuelu-Buchanan WA/CNetball Central / Te Wānanga O Raukawa Pulse Michaela Sokolich-Beatson (C)GD/WD/GKSKYCITY Mystics Maia Wilson GS Northern Stars Support Staff Kiri Wills, Head Coach Julie Seymour, Assistant Coach Jen Ferguson, Physio Jill Clapcott, Manager Anna Cave, Performance Analyst Dr Penelope Day, Doctor International Netball Federation Appointed Umpires/Officials – NZL Gareth Fowler Ann Hay Angela Armstrong-Lush Fay Meiklejohn (Umpire Appointments Panel) NZU21s NWYC2017 Match Schedule (all games shown in local time): Note: Botswana is -10hours behind New Zealand Day 1, Saturday 8 July: 8am, New Zealand v Northern Ireland Day 2, Sunday 9 July: 2pm, Samoa v New Zealand Day 3, Monday 10 July: 10am, Scotland v New Zealand Day 4, Tuesday 11 July: REST DAY Day 5, Wednesday 12 July: 9am, New Zealand v Sri Lanka Days 6 – 9: Finals (Pools reconfigured)
23/5/2017
College Sport Media netball profile: Taneisha Fifita (Waitaki Girls’ High School)The Beko Netball League is the development competition running alongside the ANZ Premiership. The league consists of 31 games run over 13 weekends, culminating in a Grand Final in Auckland on 18 June. A number of secondary school netballers are involved in one of the six teams and College Sport Media is profiling some of these players. Taneisha Fifita joined last year’s champions Netball South this year aged just 15. On Sunday the Year 11 Waitaki Girls’ High School student played in their 44-51 defeat to already confirmed grand finalists Netball Central. This Sunday South hosts the Northern Comets in Invercargill, live on Sky Sport 2 at 4.00pm. Name: Taneisha Fifita Beko Netball League Team: Netball South School: Waitaki Girls’ High School, Oamaru What positions do you play? GS/GK, GA/GD At what age, and how did you become involved in netball? I was 10 when I first started. My younger sister inspired me to play the game because her netball coach thought I would be good. What are your earliest memories of playing netball or being around the court? Our family arrived from Japan [father was a former rugby player] and I had no idea how to play the game. My earliest fond memory of the game is when I was in Year 6 at Pembroke School and I got to play together with my two younger sisters in one team. Our mother was our coach and we won the title for that level. I thought it was pretty awesome. Favourite on-court netball moment or highlight in your career thus far? Highlight for me is being selected for South Beko at the age 15! What other provincial, regional or national representative teams have you played in? Waitaki Lightning Strike, North Otago U17 (Nationals 2016), Dunedin Southern Tui. What challenges and rewards are there for you training and playing in the Beko League, with and against all the aspiring elite level players? Challenge for me is juggling church, school and netball especially at a higher level. Training is very intense but very rewarding when I strive to balance it all and through this journey, I realised how important to well organise my day. Will you also be playing for your school team this year and, if so, what’s coming up with them that you will be playing in and striving for? I have played a few games and will be back with them when Beko is finished. I hope we will all strive to give our best in every game/tournament we have. Who are your favourite netball players? My favourite netballers are Irene van Dyk, Maria Tutaia and Jennifer O'Connell. Do you have a motto or saying you live you or that motivates you? To win and have fun! What are your pre-game rituals? Say my prayer What other team/individual sports do you play? Basketball and volleyball, but not competitively. What subjects do you take at school? My NCEA level one subjects are English, Maths, Science, Business Studies, Digital Technology and Textiles. Who are your greatest supporters? Forever grateful to the support of my family, my coaches (especially Georgie Salter), my teachers, my school, my friends and my team mates – thank you all! The Beko Netball League is the development competition running alongside the ANZ Premiership. The league consists of 31 games run over 13 weekends, culminating in a Grand Final in Auckland on 18 June. A number of secondary school netballers are involved in one of the six teams and College Sport Media is profiling some of these players. Theresa Ngata plays for the Northern Comets, who meet the table topping Central team in Otaki, just north of Wellington, this coming Saturday afternoon in round seven. Versatile defender Theresa is in the 2017 New Zealand Schools squad and represented the New Zealand U21 team in Fiji at the start of this year. Name: Theresa Ngata Beko Netball League Team: Northern Comets School: Aorere College What positions do you play? GD, GK, WD At what age did you start playing and how did you become involved? I started playing Netball at the age of 8. When I was 8 I would watch the Silver Ferns, not even knowing any rules of the game, but I wanted to play netball and be in that team. Favourite on-court netball moment or highlight in your career thus far? So far, I'll say standing on the transverse line facing the opposition team on the tour to Fiji, representing NZ in the U21’s competiton. That feeling standing alongside amazing players and wearing a black dress was something special to me. What other club or provincial teams have you played in growing up? When I was 8, the first club I joined in was Papatoetoe Rangers. When I hit Intermediate, I started playing Auckland Reps. I then started representing my country in the Auckland Tonga team that was competing in the Pacific Cup Challenge. These were the teams I played in to start off with. What challenges and rewards are there for you training and playing in the Beko League, with and against all the aspiring elite level players? I guess the challenge for me playing the Beko League is training. You have to give it your all in trainings because as said “You train how you play”. The reward in that is me becoming a better athlete mentally and physically. Will you also be playing for your school team this year and if so what’s coming up with them that you will be striving for? I will be playing for school this year and I think that our goal is to make nationals from the UNISS tournament and hopefully place better than last year where we came 12th. Who are your favourite netball players? I have many favourites but from when I was little I use to say that I'm going to be like Anna Scarlett who is now married and is called Harrison. More of my favourites are Casey Kopua, Kayla Cullen, Serena Guthrie, Laura Geitz and Maria Tutaia. Do you have a personal motto that you bring with you on court? Have fun! What are your pre-game rituals? Listening to music. What other team/individual sports do you play or have played competitively? I have played Basketball and Volleyball competitively over the years. See our article last year on her volleyball and basketball here http://www.collegesportmedia.co.nz/basketball/busy-life-on-the-court-for-theresa-ngata What subjects do you take at school? The subjects I take at NCEA L2 are Maths, English, Business, Classics, History, and PE. Who are your greatest supporters? I'm blessed to have such support from my family, friends, school and even Netball New Zealand! Just a shout out to my Family. They're kinda the reason to why I’m still going. They've helped me be the person I am and what I want to become and that is, being a Silver Fern. E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā rau rangatira mā, tēnā kautau katoa. AMNOHL is pleased to announce the 12 players selected to represent the Aotearoa Māori Netball International Secondary School (AMNISS) team. Storm Collings-Gilmer, (St Orans College), Ikaroa ki te Tonga Tayla Earle, (Saint Kentigern College), Waiariki Asher Grapes, (Hastings Girls High School), Ikaroa ki te Raki Antonia Heihei, (Manukura), Ikaroa ki te Raki Tamara Leoni, (Epsom Girls Grammar), Tamaki-makau-rau Paris Lokotui, (Queen Margaret College), Ikaroa ki te Tonga Parris Mason, (New Plymouth Girls High), Aotea Jessica Pease, (Palmerston North Girls), Ikaroa ki te Raki Jaydi Taylor-Chaffey, (Napier Girls High), Ikaroa ki te Raki Braxton Te Riini, (Manukura) Ikaroa ki te Raki Princess Tomoana, (Manukura), Tai Rawhiti Khiarna Williams, (Trident High School),Waiariki Trialists were selected following AMNOHL's 30th National Tournament played recently (Easter weekend) in Manurewa. High Performance Camps held earlier in the year gave head coach Rebecca Gabel an opportunity to work with identified talented players throughout the country nominated by their waka (regions). It also allowed her to preview potential trialists ahead of National Tournament. "Trials were hugely competitive and the 24 players who attended made the decision really difficult" says, Gabel. "I'm very excited. We have a fantastic mix of experienced players who have been in our team and a part of our programme before together with some really new and exciting players." That experience comes in the form of Tayla Earle and Antonia Heihei who were members of the gold medal winning Aotearoa team that won the International Schoolgirls Netball Challenge in Kuala Lumpur in 2015, along with Jessica Pease, Jaydi Taylor-Chaffey and Braxton Te Riini who were all in the 2016 Aotearoa team. Along with Gabel who was assistant coach of the team in 2015 and head coach in 2016, the team will supported by experienced international campaigners - Team Manager Daniel Short and AMNOHL Representative Pauline Wharerau. The team will go into camp in Auckland on the 11th of May, fly out to Fiji on the 13th and contest the International Under 19 Schools Challenge from the 16th to the 20th and return home on Sunday 21st May 2017. Haera pai atu, hoki pai mai kautau. |
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