Cook Islands News Wednesday 27 May 2009:

Improving the country’s international netball ranking is the mission of a Cook Islands squad preparing for next month’s Pacific Netball Series in Samoa.
The competition is scheduled for June 3 to 5 and includes teams from Samoa (5th), Fiji (9th) and Papua New Guinea who are ranked 11th in the world.
The Cook Islands team, which is ranked 10th, includes Rarotonga-based players Luciana Matenga, Selina Napa and Curly George.
The rest of the team is made up of players based in New Zealand and includes Cook Islands under 21 coach Theresa Tairi. twins Paula and Patricia Te Huna, Ritua Petero-Lilivaa, Angela Tangimetua, Holly Solomona, Paula Marama and Claresta Andrew.
The main reason for the Pacific Series is to establish a new ranking for the teams taking part whether they make the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India.
Only 12 netball teams can take part in the Commonwealth Games with hosts India automatically taking the 12th spot.
The Cook Islands were ranked 7th at the last World Cup in Auckland in 2007 but a lack-lustre performance by the Pacific Games team in Samoa in 2007 – where they were ranked 4th – saw the country’s ranking drop to 10th.
The best ranking the country ever had was fifth following
the 1991 world championships.
So there is no doubt that the current netball ranking team will be gunning to return the countries netball status back to its former glory.
The local players will be heading to New Zealand tomorrow where they will head into a camp with the New Zealand-based players before heading to Samoa on Monday June 1.
The Cook Islands delegation will be lead by the Cook Islands Netball Association president Margharet Matenga while the management team includes Ana Noovao (coach), Catharine Kaumoana (manager), Paul Aitu (physio) and nutritionist Edith Cherrington.
The Cooks will play Fiji on Wednesday June 3, Samoa on Thursday June 4 and Papua New Guinea on Friday June 5.
Meanwhile the CINA prizegiving dinner will be held at the Edgewater Resort & Spa tonight. The function starts at 6pm – for details on tickets contact members of the CINA executive. - MW

Cook Islands New Thursday 21 May 2009:

Sports minister Ngamau Munokoa says she feels a bit better about the World Youth Netball Championships, following a community meeting on Tuesday evening.
This week Munokoa expressed her disappointment at a round of games scheduled to be played on Sunday, August 16, during the championships.
Around 50 people, along with WYNC’s Tina Browne, Patsy Hockin and Donye Numa, were present at the meeting at the Nikao Sunday school hall.
Munokoa says that Browne told the meeting that they would look into the matter about rescheduling the Sunday games. She adds that cabinet members also shared her concern at Tuesday’s weekly meeting. - Moana Moeka’a

Cook Islands News - Saturday 16 May 2009:

Sixteen year old Auckland Girls Grammar school girl Kayla Cullen is one of 12 players named in the New Zealand under 21 netball squad to defend its title at the World Youth Netball Championships here in August.
The side includes six players currently competing in the Trans-Tasman competition. Cullen’s inclusion as a goalshooter is subject to passing a fitness test as she underwent a knee operation last year.
There will be one other AGGS student at the WYNC – goalshooter Alana Smith is a member of the Cook Islands squad.
The New Zealand under 21 squad includes Hannah Broederlow, Alanah Cassidy, Emily Close, Hayley Crofts, Kayla Cullen, Paula Griffin, Charlotte Kight, Camilla Lees, Jess McCormack, Jess Moulds, Grace Rasmussen, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.

Cook Islands News: Friday 15 May 2009

Fiji could be in danger of missing out on the World Youth Netball Championships to be held here in August if speculations that event fees have not been paid are true.
But Netball Fiji is denying claims Fiji’s participation at the August 11-20 meet is in doubt because it has not paid participation fees.
The deadline for player eligibility closed on May 8 and claims have been made Netball Fiji was well aware of this.
The players were to have been given forms at the training last week because the team apparently had missed the eligibility deadline.
The payments for registration, payments for deadlines for accommodation and for umpires at WYC have not been met.
Netball Fiji secretary Patricia Rokua said elements were bent on destroying the hard work done by them and denied Fiji was in danger of missing out.
“Everything is in order and we have been dealing with IFNA and WYNC organisers,” Rokua told Fiji Times Online.
In February, the state endorsed $124,718.50 for the side’s preparation and participation in the WYNC.
Rokoua said everything was still going ahead as planned.
“There is no need to panic,” she said.
Fiji U21 manager Selina Kuruleca said the team was on the right track and all were working together to get the team ready for the WYNC.
Rokoua has denied claims that head coach Melissa Walker had not been paid.
Times Sport highlighted on Saturday that Walker had not been paid and her rent had yet to be paid as well. Walker did not wish to comment on the matter. - Fiji Times Online/MW