Fire star determined to create her own legacy
FIRE F front-court monster Zitina Aokuso does not want to be the next Suzy Batkovic. She wants to be the one-and-only ‘Z’.
In fact, after three years with the F Fire, she is ready to break out of the W WNBL legend’s shadow.
And head of high performance at t the Fire Brent Goriss believes she has the right mix to be the most damaging big in WNBL history.
Goriss has been putting the 21y year-old through her paces in a highin intensity rehabilitation program as sh she aims to get back on court after m missing last season with an anteriorcr cruciate ligament injury.
That was meant to be the season A Aokuso broke out on court, and to lead the Fire into the post-batkovic era. But a year later, the desire and determination has not left her. But she doesn’t want that name hanging over everything she does.
“I love Suzy, she was a great player and a big inspiration for me, but I don’t want to be the next Suzy. I want to be the one and only Zitina,” Aokuso told the Townsville Bulletin.
“To be able to be on her level is something I aspire to, but I just want to be myself.
“(Being in her shadow) comes with how young I am and Suzy being the GOAT she is. That is part of the territory, but I am ready to put in the hard yards and break out of it.”
She is not lying when she says hard yards. Aokuso arrived back in Townsville last week to begin her ‘pre-season’ and she has only had the one day off since.
Living with the Goriss family, Aokuso has been put through her paces by the personal trainer at 5 Star Fitness in Townsville.
With gyms forced to close amid the coronavirus crisis, they have had to think outside the square moving her strength and conditioning sessions to home.
Aokuso does two sessions a day, using dumbbells, stretch bands and even the household broom.
“She has been very committed since she has been back. She is living with us, which helps. I can monitor what she is doing throughout the day, keeping an eye on her food intake, and also having that downtime. Sleep is important,” Goriss said. “She has really fit in well with my family, after a week she is already part of the family.
“But from what I have seen so far, and the experience I have had with her over the past couple of years at the Fire, she is really committed to come back bigger and better than what she was before.
“She is physically bigger than what she was when she was injured. She has been blessed with the physical size that she has got. If she does come back bigger and better, more powerful, better lateral movement and more explosive – if we can get her to that point where she is dunking the ball again she will be a force to be reckoned with.
“I don’t think anybody
WNBL can stop her.” in the