Thumbs-up for Princess from former Ferns coach

Princess Tomoana has been named in the Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty development team to play the Northern zone development side tomorrow. Picture by Paul Rickard

Gisborne Girls’ High School ace goal shoot/goal attack Princess Tomoana has got the thumbs-up from former New Zealand goal attack and former Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken.

The Year 13 schoolgirl has been named in the Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty (NWBoP) development team to play their Northern zone counterparts in Auckland tomorrow.

“Princess has done exceptionally well and fully deserves her place in the squad,” said Aitken, the NWBoP performance manager.

“We have talent scouts at our regional tournaments throughout the year and Princess was identified as one to watch after winning a player-of-the-tournament award.

“She has great netball sense, reads the game well and shows a lot of maturity, which is why she skipped Level 1 and went straight to Level 2.

“It’s easy to play well for your own team but to go into a different environment and stand out is another matter.

“We had 45 players attend camp (Magic in the Making Level 2 performance squad day) last Sunday in Tokoroa, with Magic coaches and Beko netball league coaches in attendance.

“With only 14 named to play Northern — which effectively covers the best of the top of the North Island — it’s a great opportunity, not only for Princess but for all the players.

“We’re having a mixed training session, which will test how the girls get on with players from other regions, before they compete against each other in a game.”

Tomoana’s GGHS coach and former YMP premier championship-winning coach Irene Takao is also an admirer of Tomoana.

“I have absolutely no doubt that Princess has what it takes to go on and become a Silver Fern,” Takao said.

“I’ve coached Princess for four or five years, apart from last year, when she attended Manukura school in Palmerston North.

“She is a very talented netballer who wears her heart on her sleeve. She is totally dedicated and has great family support.

“She was unlucky not to make the Beko Western Bay of Plenty team. She trialled for their team and just missed out.

“But she has time on her side and a work ethic that will take her to the top. She has the no-pain/no-gain attitude and works hard for her team every game.

“Princess is from Te Karaka and it’s great for that community and Gisborne netball that someone has made the NWBoP squad.”