Marlene's commitment to hockey recognised

CONGRATULATIONS: Hockey friends and supporters congratulate Marlene Nikora on her Lotto New Zealand Sport Maker award. They are, back (from left): Ngati Tupara, Mona Bradley, Alice Brown-Haenga, Jean Royal and Caroline Haapu. Front: Venus Hongara, Marlene Nikora and Te Mauri Mini Smith. Picture by Paul Rickard

FORMER New Zealand Masters player Marlene Nikora got an early Christmas present when she received a Lotto New Zealand Sport Maker award for dedication, loyalty, honesty, integrity and commitment to hockey.

Nikora, coach of Te Tairawhiti Maori women’s squad has been playing and coaching hockey for “a long time . . . don’t ask me my age”.

“I love playing hockey and I love coaching, not just the senior players but also the younger age groups,” said Nikora, who, after a long and distinguised career as the most prolific goalscorer in local women’s hockey, has moved back into defence for GMC.

“I didn’t know about the award (which brings with it the opportunity to buy sporting goods worth $2000) until the Gisborne Herald photographer turned up to take a photo.

“It’s pretty humbling. There are a lot of others who probably deserve this award more then I do but I’ll accept it on behalf of hockey.

“I’ve had a lot of enjoyment, and played with and against some really good players. It’s also great to be able to pass on some knowledge to the younger players and watch them as they progress.

“The game has changed with the new surfaces being used, and it’s great that we now have turf here. Hockey is much faster now. On grass you could defend closer to your own goal, but on turf you have to defend higher up the pitch, closer to the halfway line and beyond.”

Nominated for the awardNikora, who has been known to dig deep into her pockets to support teams she has coached, was nominated for the award by Hana Kone, Hine Te Ariki and Taraipine Tutaki Maori Hockey Association chairperson Te Mauri Mini Smith.

And in typical fashion, Nikora will use the $2000 to buy gear for others.

“We’re holding a whanau tournament here at Easter and I’d like to buy shirts for all the volunteers who are helping run the tournament,” she said.

“It would be nice to see them all in the same uniforms,” said Nikora, who was in the New Zealand over-40 women’s team beaten by Australia in the final of the world masters’ championships in Birmingham, England, in 2007.

“We’re inviting teams from outside the district to the whanau tournament and then we’re hosting the national Maori tournament at Labour Weekend.

“It’s good to be able to help the volunteers . . . put something back into hockey. It was something that was instilled in me by my grandmother (Mini Tupara) and the family club, Waituhi.”

Nikora’s time as a player with Waituhi included one year when she filled in for the men’s team. She has also played for YMP and GMC in recent years.

She has also represented Northland in the masters’ tournament since 2005.

“They invited me to play for them that year and despite offers from closer associations, I’ve stayed with Northland.

“We meet up and it’s great to see the women again. There are changes but I have played hockey with some of them since those early days.”