Skipper feels it’s time for a change
A relentless travel schedule during 2016 has prompted Marlborough footballer Tiana Williams to look westward.
The 17 year-old, who captained Tasman United during their inaugural season in the Mainland Women’s Premier League, intends to complete her secondary schooling at Nelson’s Waimea College in 2017.
While a student at Marlborough Girls’ College during 2016, Williams made ‘‘four or five trips a week’’ over the Whangamoas to train and play with Tasman during their 18-game campaign, a huge commitment in time and expense.
The talented midfield leader said the travel factor ‘‘was just getting a bit too much’’, especially with her parents and those of fellow Marlborough player Ruby Smith bearing the brunt of the cost.
‘‘And I think I will enjoy the whole experience more if I am actually living over there,’’ Williams explained.
With the Tasman women training three or four times a week, plus match day commitments and gym work to attend to, year 12 student Williams found her study opportunities were late at night and limited, meaning she was unable to devote as much time to her schoolwork as she wished.
‘‘Keeping up with homework was the most difficult part about [the busy schedule] to be honest. I always seemed to be up late, trying to finish things and they wouldn’t be to as high a standard as I wanted them to be.
‘‘But it was just something I had to deal with.’’
And deal with it she did, leading Tasman to a very creditable third placing in their first shot at the big time, the youthful league rookies winning 10 of their 18 games.
Although she found the unexpected captaincy role a trifle daunting at first, she grew into it as the season progressed.
‘‘They are a good bunch of girls, so that made it a lot easier. Everyone got on well.
‘‘If I got the opportunity [to be captain] again I would definitely step up and be more vocal. [Communication] was a weakness in my game, still is. It’s something I have to work on.’’
Williams was a regular presence during the season, playing every game.
While she was tough on herself, suggesting she did not always produce her best, Williams felt her game had improved overall thanks to the tutelage of ‘‘her favourite coach’’, Tasman mentor Ryan Stewart.
‘‘I was a bit on and off ... although towards the end of the season I started to become myself more. Maybe the captaincy put me off a bit, just having that extra pressure.’’
Despite her harsh selfexamination, Williams played well enough to be named in the Christchurch-based Canterbury Pride squad for the National Women’s League season. She got game time in the title-winning crew but found the additional travel schedule and time away from home hard to justify.
‘‘I felt it was quite difficult for someone who is living so far away. I would go away on Thursday and get home on Sunday, meaning I would miss even more school.
‘‘I enjoyed the experience, but would have liked it much more if I lived in Christchurch . . . being able to train with the girls every morning and every night and being able to prove myself, working for my game time.’’
Consequently it is with the Tasman team that Williams’ aspirations lie, admitting she has been looking forward to the 2017 season since the whistle blew on their 2016 campaign. This season they have lost midfielder Ariana Whittington and defender Hannah Mackay-Wright, but picked up highly-rated defender Geena Gross.
Williams feels they now have the potential to challenge the leaders.
‘‘It was a good result for our first time in that league, but we all expect more from ourselves. This season hopefully we can make a step up from third and put some pressure on the top two teams.’’