NETBALL AROUND THE WORLD 23 DECEMBER 2009
Congratulations to Tanzania’s Taifa Queens, who gained their first international ranking, of 22, thanks to their performances in the recent Nations Cup in Singapore. In Africa, this ranks the country in fourth place, behind Malawi, South Africa and Botswana.
Fiji has named Unaisi Rokoura and Taina Rabitu as its new coaching partnership, as the national squad prepares for the Pacific Series in June. Rokoura coached Fiji at the recent Pacific Mini Games, while Rabitu was the assistant coach of Fiji’s U21 squad. They take over from Melissa Walker, who was recently named the new head coach of Wales.
In Jamaica, inspirational defender Kasey Evering is responding well to rehabilitation after a second knee surgery. Evering, who last represented Jamaica at the 2007 World Netball Championships in New Zealand, sustained an ACL / meniscus injury earlier this year and first had surgery in June. However, this was unsuccessful and so she took the decision to undergo further surgery with the aim of returning to international competition in the spring.
Netball Australia has announced that the Diamonds will continue an intensive programme of preparation for the Commonwealth Games with a three match test series against Jamaica in August next year. The matches will be staged in Melbourne, Sydney and, for the first time, on the Gold Coast and the Diamonds will be keen to regain the mental advantage after recently suffering a shock one goal loss to the Sunshine Girls in Kingston.
In the UK’s Superleague, Mavericks defeated Leeds Carnegie 54-31 and Northern Thunder scored their first win of the season with a 66-36 victory over Celtic Dragons. Cheryl Danson, former chair of England Netball, has been returned to office after a meeting of the body’s board of directors and consultation with representatives from England Netball’s regions. Former international Lyn Carpenter has been named as England Netball’s vice chairman until the organisation’s 2011 AGM.
Congratulations to former Silver Fern Vilimaina Davu who married her long time partner this week. Davu, who also coached Fiji at the last World Netball Championships, is based in Auckland and played for the Northern Mystics in last year’s ANZ Championships.
Very best wishes for a happy Christmas and a successful 2010 to all our members and supporters from all at IFNA. Please click here to view our ecard.