Samoa Represented at PacificAus Sports Netball Series
Samoa, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Tonga and invitee team Singapore will be competing against each other in the upcoming “PacificAus Sports Netball Series” due to take place in Sydney at the Sydney Olympic Park from March 21 to 26.
Rosemarie Esera, Netball Samoa CEO, said the PacificAus Sports Netball Series is an opportunity to showcase national players and evaluate Samoa’s in-country program.
“Just being able to get our team on the court will be a huge achievement,” Esera said.
“Bringing our regions together through netball will allow us to assess where we are, what needs to be worked on, and provides the opportunity of being part of an international fixture.”
The inaugural event will be hosted by Netball Australia and funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), with the hope to further strengthen international netball relationships whilst still providing the teams with high-level competition needed in the lead up to the Oceania Netball World Cup Qualifiers in Fiji, July 2022.
The Series’ theme of One Court, One Family will bring attention to the main objectives behind this program which are:
-Developing pathways for Pacific teams to play in high-level Australian sporting competitions,
-Supporting Australian teams to increase their presence and participation in the Pacific, and
-Creating pathways for emerging Pacific athletes to benefit from high-performance coaching and training.
The Series will be live streamed both in and out of Australia, through online platforms.
Netball Samoa announced the squad representing Samoa in next week’s PacificAus Series:
Anastasia Afoa
Sayonara Alaalatoa*
Margean Asiata*
Eseta Autagavaia
Jennifer Brown
Jessica Lagaaia
Ariana Luamanu
Soli Ropati
Seiafi Sapolu
Ky-mani Schwenke
Malia Seumanutafa
Shenade Southon**
Sheridan Stowers
Geraldine Taefu*
Larafina Tanielu-Stowers*
Auteletoa Tanimo
Samantha Tuilaepa*
Grace Valele
PacificAus Management:
Coach – Elizabeth Manu
Assistant Coach – Aiulu Aoina
Team Manager – Aiolupotea Aoatua Levalasi Lee
Physio – Holly Boyd
Management (Samoa based):
Team Manager – Eka Arp
Trainer – Micheal Aisea
*Samoa players unable to attend due to covid travel restrictions
**Unable to attend due to injury
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