Losa follows in sister’s steps
Losa Fifita has taken a huge step forward to follow her sister through the ranks of New Zealand netball.
She was recently named in the NZ Secondary Schools’ squad – a group her sister, Taneisha, played for in 2018-19.
Taneisha is now in her third season playing for Southern Steel.
Losa knew nothing about the squad until Taneisha was selected. It wasn’t long before Losa set herself a goal to also gain selection one day.
That day has arrived.
‘‘It’s still sinking in [that I’m in the squad] ... I’m going to finally make it,’’ Losa, 17, said.
She is the only player from the south named in the 19-strong squad, which was selected from 85 players who attended three national development camps in January.
Losa, Lucy Hall and Lucy Shirley, all of Southland Girls’ High School, attended the South Island camp in Ashburton.
Girls’ High marketing and communication co-ordinator Megan McKenzie said: ‘‘To the best of our knowledge’’ Losa would be the first SGHS student to play in the national secondary schools’ team.
The squad’s itinerary for training camps and games is yet to be confirmed because of Covid-19 regulations.
The Fifita sisters were born in Tonga and spent five years in Japan when their father, Tevita Fifita, secured a rugby playing contract there. He had earlier played for the Tongan national rugby team.
After living in Japan the family moved to New Zealand. At the start of 2020, they shifted from Oamaru to Invercargill to support Taneisha with her netball.
Receiving netball coaching in Oamaru, from ex-Silver Fern Georgie Salter, had been invaluable, Losa said.
She, Taneisha and their other sister, Maikale, were coached in Waitaki Girls’ High School and North Otago representative teams by Salter.
Advice and coaching from Academy Southland had also helped her develop as a netballer, Losa said.
Academy Southland manager Jason McKenzie said she was a natural talent with a great training ethic.
A quiet and unassuming young woman, she came from a supportive family and was now starting to come out of her shell, McKenzie said.