Kolose soaks up Oceania lessons

Taranaki schoolgirl Nikita Kolose played on the international stage this week, when the 18-year-old hockey player picked up her stick for Samoa at the Oceania Cup.

Coming out of the tournament with a bronze medal, Nikita said the opportunity to play in international matches was "amazing".

It isn't the first time the talented teenager has played for Samoa - she has also represented her father's country at the World League which took place in Fiji.

"I love the opportunity, you learn so much just being on the same turf as the other players, and to play against some of the best in the world is amazing," she said.

Nikita, who attends New Plymouth Girls High School, plans to go to Auckland University next year to study PE or law and criminology. "I haven't decided yet, I have been accepted for both, so I just need to decide what I want to do."

Before she starts her university studies, Nikita is heading to Samoa for a month in January. "It will be good to catch up with some of the girls I have played with this week. I have learned a lot from them. Especially Peta [Mualia-Te'O - the Samoan women's captain], who has taught me heaps about passion for the game as well as skill."

Nikita herself clearly has passion for the sport. She has captained the Taranaki Under 18 side, who placed fourth at nationals in Dunedin this year and has played representative hockey for the past nine years for Taranaki. She has also coached the Under 15 boys this year.

Taranaki Hockey executive officer Reachelle Beasley said Nikita was inspirational.

"She is a lovely person and has constantly worked and trained hard."