10 THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT OUR PEARLS COACH
I HAVE REALLY ENJOYED LIVING IN FIJI AND fiNDING MY WAY AROUND. HAVE LOVED GOING TO THE MARKETS FOR FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, ENJOYED GOING TO SATURDAY NETBALL AND LOOKING AT ALL THE TALENT ON SHOW. I HAVE ALREADY GOT SOME FAVOURITE CAFES TO GO FOR GOOD COFFEE AND WE HAVE VISITED A COUPLE OF GREAT RESTAURANTS TO. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO EXPLORING MORE OF FIJI AND I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GO OUT TO THE WEST TO SEE OUR NETBALLERS OVER THERE, ONCE THE LOCKDOWN IS OVER.”
Jenny Brazel HEAD COACH FOR FIJIAN PEARLS
Family plays a big and an important role in her life. Fijian Pearls head coach, Jennifer Brazel, is a family orientated woman. She grew up in a sporting family and her love for netball inspired her to start coaching.
“I had a very happy childhood, grew up in a very sports minded family, so our weekends were taken up with lots of sport and because both my parents came from big families,” she told SUNsports.
“There were always lots of aunties, uncles and cousins around.
“I have a big family of my own, we all live in Brisbane. So, it means everyone in the family is no more than about at the most 20 minutes away from each other.
“The two boys (sons) still live at home as they are currently at university. So, family plays a very big part in my life and I’m very family orientated.”
She played many different sports including netball, athletics, soccer, badminton and cross country running.
“I had always loved playing netball, so I felt that coaching was a natural pathway for me to follow and it was a great opportunity to give back to the sport I have always loved.
“I really enjoy watching players grow both on and off the court and I find this immensely rewarding,” Brazel added.
She has enjoyed living in Fiji since arriving in March, replacing fellow Australian, Vicki Wilson.
“I have really enjoyed living in Fiji and finding my way around,” she said.
“Have loved going to the markets for fresh fruit and vegetables, enjoyed going to Saturday netball and looking at all the talent on show. “I have already got some favourite cafes to go for good coffee and we have visited a couple of great restaurants to.
“I am looking forward to exploring more of Fiji and I am really looking forward to go out to the West to see our netballers over there, once the lockdown is over.”
Here are 10 things to know about her:
1. Commonly known as Jenny, her full name is Jennifer Mary Brazel
2. Happily married to David Brazel, a fire and rescue officer
3.She was born in Toowoomba, Queensland in Australia which is about an hour and a half from Brisbane. Grew up in Toowoomba and lived there till 1999 before she moved to Brisbane.
4. She has five children- three daughters, Melissa, Samantha and Catherine plus twin sons, Jake and Riley.
And seven grandchildren, Madalyn, Charlotte, Mia, Jack, William, Oliver and Billie.
5. She is the eldest of two siblings. Her younger brother is Paul.
6. Holds a Netball Australia High Performance Coaching Accreditation (Level 3)
7. Started taking up coaching as a fulltime career in 2014 when she took up the position as the Queensland Firebirds assistant coach. She has coached many netball teams including the Queensland Firebirds in both the ANZ Championship and Suncorp Super Netball competitions.
Also coached many Queensland teams for about 10 years. These teams played in the Australian National League Team Qld Fusion, State 21Under, State 19U, State 17U also coach the Suncoast Lynx Super League team for 13 years in the Netball Queensland competition now known as the Hart Sapphire League.
8. The Pearls is her first international team to coach.
9. Jenny enjoys cooking, reading a good book, spending time with family and friends. And also love spending time at the beach. 10. She has only been to Fiji twice before, once back in 1994 when she came with a young netball team for a tournament in the West. And in 2006, she came to the Naviti Resort for her dear friend Simone Nalatu’s wedding, who was a former Pearls representative.