‘Huge long shot’ but Ekenasio is open to Ferns recall
Trying to function effectively on broken sleep has been the toughest obstacle for Silver Fern hopeful and first-time mum Ameliaranne Ekenasio.
The 26-year-old shooter will return to the elite ranks this weekend when she features for the Fast5 Ferns in netball’s abbreviated format at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena.
It has been a rapid transition for the 12-test Silver Fern, who gave birth to son, Ocean, in June and has worked her way back through her PIC club in Wellington and indoor netball.
Ekenasio, who last played for the Silver Ferns in October 2016 against Australia, has aspirations to wear the black dress at April’s Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, but knows stacked against her.
She has a fresh appreciation for former internationals Leana de Bruin, Anna Harrison, Liana Leota and Jodi Brown, who combined motherhood while representing the Silver Ferns and playing top-level netball.
Turning up to morning training sessions on limited sleep and trying to regain her match fitness, speed and agility had tested her resolve.
‘‘Honestly, it’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever actually been through. time is
‘‘I really had no idea what I was in for when I said I wanted to come back straight after the baby. Trying to remember how to do everything and trying to get my body to be the same as it was before almost feels impossible.’’
Bailey Mes, Maria Tutaia and Te Paea Selby-Rickit are virtually certainties for the Silver Ferns’ Commonwealth Games squad, but the door remains open for the fourth shooting spot.
If Ekenasio can impress for the Fast5 Ferns, who are gunning for their seventh title in eight years and fifth in a row, she could be in contention for a call-up for January’s Quad Series tournament. That will be the Silver Ferns’ final hit-out before the Commonwealth Games and should resemble a shadow squad.
‘‘I don’t know how realistic it is, but I’m still going to aim for it. It’s a huge long shot. I’ll give it everything.’’
She said husband, former Wellington Saints basketball stalwart, Damien Ekenasio was superb at caring for Ocean. Damien and Ocean will fly to Melbourne today to attend the Fast5 world series.
Ekenasio has never played netball’s modified version, where shooters have three different scoring zones and teams can nominate a power play quarter, where goals are doubled.
She hadn’t yet picked the brain of Silver Ferns shooting star Tutaia, who has been a sensation when turning out for the Fast5 Ferns in the past.
‘‘I’ve been trying to [learn], but once you get into the game it’s a whole different story. I’d love to perform well and play well. At the end of the day, I know it’s still early and as long as I’ve done the best I can, that’s all I can ask for.’’