BY LESLEY FOINAGWA
SOLOMON Islands national women’s netball training squad has kicked-off its inaugural friendly match trials as screening continues to finalise a team to represent the country at the next year’s Pacific Games in Honiara.
The national training squad took on the Owaraha netball club in their first match held yesterday at the Solomon Islands Institute of Sports (SINIS) complex netball facility. They beat Owaraha 46-17.
Solomon Islands national women’s netball training squad at the Solomon Islands Institute of Sports (SINIS) complex netball facility.
Solomon Islands Netball Training Team Coach, Martha Tolia told RAW SPORTS that they are delighted to compete against top netball clubs in Honiara.
Martha said they are looking forward to playing six friendly trial matches with the top netball clubs competing in the Honiara Netball Leagues.
“The scheduled friendly trial matches are very important to identify and also to select some potential players to join with National Netball Training Team to represent the country in Pacific Games 2023.
“We hope to identify our weaknesses and strengths from the scheduled trial matches. After all our objective is to test our athlete’s knowledge and skills on how well they can attack, defend, and control the ball on the court of play.
“At the moment, we are still looking for new players to come and join the national training team,” the Solomon Islands Netball Training Team Coach said.
On a similar note, SINIS Director Aaron Alsop said the trial matches are important in terms of early preparations for the 2023 Pacific Games and also to boost their confidence and skills on the court.
Meanwhile, there are currently 38 athletes in the national netball training squad who are aiming to wear the national colors next year at the Games.
The next trial matches are scheduled for November. It will feature netball clubs like Isa, Southern, Suvani, Sunrise, and Gold Ridge II.
