Silver Ferns captain has ‘more to give’
Andrew Voerman
Ameliaranne Ekenasio considered making this year’s campaign with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic her last.
But after taking a break from the game while the Silver Ferns played in the Netball Nations Cup in England earlier this year, she feels refreshed, declaring: “I genuinely have more to give”.
Speaking at the launch of the new ANZ Premiership season yesterday, Ekenasio said she had “felt really heavy for a while”.
“Just the weight of leadership and the weight of everything on my shoulders – I felt it for such a long time. I definitely feel a bit lighter now.”
Ekenasio said she had asked herself some big questions over the summer.
“It was a super important time for me to reflect on why I’m still playing and [to ask], do I want to still play?
“I’m pretty glad I ended up in the space of ‘I’m still going to play’.”
Ekenasio said she had come back to the Magic “giving from a place of love and genuinely wanting to be here, rather than [feeling it’s an] obligation.
“You dedicate so much being an athlete. It’s not a nine-to-five job, it’s an all-encompassing job. As somebody who has got kids, your capacity is completely stretched, all the time.”
Ekenasio turned 33 in January and was the Silver Ferns captain at last year’s World Cup in Cape Town, where an injury to her shooting circle partner Grace Nweke contributed heavily to a disappointing fourth-place finish.
She said during her time reflecting over the past few months she “wasn’t sure if I was cut out for it any more – if potentially my body was past the point”.
“I always knew I had to play this season – I’d already signed – but I was definitely considering if it was time to call it.”
Ekenasio was grateful for how Netball New Zealand had been “super supportive” of her taking time away from the Silver Ferns, but said she wasn’t sure if she would be adding to her 70 caps, having already weighed up retirement after the World Cup.
“I still want to put my hand up for selection … [but] at the end of the season, if it’s not right, or I’m not the right person for the job anymore, then I’d be happy to call it a day.
“I’ve been so fortunate for my career so far. I want to play some good netball and I just want to enjoy it.
“I think when I enjoy it, I play better netball, so if I can tick those things off during the season, then I am either not selected or I call it, I think I’ll be happy.”
The Magic are the first team in action in this year’s ANZ Premiership, hosting the defending champion Northern Mystics at Globox Arena in Hamilton on Saturday.