Ekenasio’s decision praised

AUCKLAND: Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua says national captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio is courageous for asking for help and supports her break from netball.

The twotime defending champion Central Pulse will be without its captain for the start of the national netball premiership this weekend.

In a post on Instagram last month, Ekenasio said she had been struggling mentally and was seeing a therapist.

Ekenasio missed last month’s preseason tournament in Otaki to freshen up following the Silver Ferns’ Constellation Cup victory in which she played a huge part.

Pulse chief executive Fran Scholey confirmed yesterday that she remained on ‘‘extended medical leave’’ as a result of fatigue.

Taurua said it had not come as a surprise.

‘‘We’ve been working with Ameliaranne over about a month.

‘‘Taking a rest is a positive for her so we fully support her and also Pulse and the action that has been taken,’’ Taurua said.

The Silver Ferns coach said the best thing they could do was give her space.

‘‘It’s knowing when you do need to pull off and they need to take that rest. I think with Ameliaranne, people need to also realise that she is a mother as well, so you’ve got extra strains on top of that, and also has a lot of other things working on top of her being a fulltime athlete.

‘‘She’s not immune to those things that a lot of other people do suffer so I think it’s a really positive thing within our sport that we do recognise that athletes are people first and foremost and whatever’s required for them to be the best we will do that.’’

Taurua said Ekenasio should be commended for being honest about her need for a rest.

‘‘That’s one of the things that we actually do talk about a lot as a group and also we try to teach some of these new up and coming athletes is that when you do need help that you have to put your hand up and I think that’s been a common message throughout society.

‘‘So I think it’s courageous and just probably demonstrates the strength of the woman and we know that she will be back on court so having this rest now can only be good for her, Pulse and also the Silver Ferns.’’ — RNZ