Netters prepare for NZ clash

The Cook Islands national netball team will face New Zealand’s Silver Ferns first up today in what has been described as a mountainous challenge for the local girls.

But the team has put in the hard yards and are looking forward to the challenge. Team captain Ritua Aliivaa says she is ‘pretty excited’ about leading the Cook Islands against New Zealand – ranked number two behind Australia.

“The girls have prepped hard and once we came together we worked hard leading up to this game,” says Aliivaa.

“The girls have had their own individual trainings and as a captain my role has been to pull the team together.”

Aliivaa admits that there is a bit of nerves heading into their first match.

“There are definitely a lot of nerves but that comes with playing sports.

“But at the same time, we are going to play our best game for the love of our country.”

She says that the team’s biggest priority is to communicate on court and to play as a united force and with the honour that comes with playing for the Cook Islands.

Aliivaa said her team will be playing for their supporters and family that have made sacrifices to help them get to the Commonwealth Games.

The team faces NZ at 3pm on Tuesday (India time) before meeting Barbados on Wednesday.

New Zealand defeated PNG 102-21 on Monday.