Photo: Cook Islands Netball
Cook Islands Netball has named a strong squad as it prepares for the Pacific Games later this year and looks to the future.
Team manager Tekura Moeka'a told RNZ Pacific from Rarotonga the squad for forthcoming warm-up tournaments contains a good mix of overseas-based and local players
"From a management perspective, we are confident in the squad's abilities and excited about the squad we have selected," she said.
"We are on the road to rebuilding and regenerating Netball Cook Islands and believe the combination of experienced players, new talents, and the support structure in place is a starting point.
"We have a mix of local-based players and overseas-based players. Local-based players are players who reside in the Cook Islands. They have been an integral part of our team and contribute to the development of netball in the country."
There are currently 14 local-based players in the wider squad.
Tekura and her twin sister Rima Moeka'a are working with those players on their training programmes.
The overseas-based players - based in Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand, and Sydney and Brisbane in Australia - are being monitored by head coach Joy Bates, who is based in Wellington.
Tekura said these players bring valuable experience from competing in higher-level leagues.
Photo: Cook Islands Netball
Young players include Mere-Jean Piri, Norma Pepe, Aleida Tere and Nicol Tiaore, who are all under 21 and can also play for the Cook Islands at the 2025 World Youth Cup.
"We have a mix of both experienced and new talent with some making their debut being named in the wider squad or at national level for the first time," Tekura said.
"We have 10 players with previous experience at the international level representing the Cook Islands, and their experience will play a key role in guiding and mentoring our younger talents."
She said new players selected, like Tere and Piri, who are both under 16 years of age, augers well for the sport and the team as they also focus on the future.
"They have shown great potential and have been performing well in the Rarotonga Netball Competition," Tekura said.
"They, along with other debutants and members of the squad, are a significant part of our strategy to build a strong and well-rounded team for the future as we start to build for the World Youth Cup in 2025."
As the squad starts preparing for the Pacific Games in Honiara in November, the local players are taking part in a seven-week men's competition.
The Cook Islands is looking at attending the Nations Cup in Singapore in September and running a Tri-Series Tournament in Rarotonga.
"These matches will provide crucial opportunities for the team to fine-tune their skills, test their strategies, and build chemistry as a unit," she added.
The Cook Islands was once a powerhouse of Pacific netball but recently has lost momentum to Fiji and Tonga.
They are currently ranked 20th in the world, behind both those nations and Samoa.