Waiopehu College student Taikato Taniora is relishing the chance to play alongside men after being selected for the Kāpiti men’s representative team.
Taniora, who has just turned 16, has played netball every season since he was a toddler and loved the game with a passion. He tried basketball too, but it just wasn’t the same.
He played indoor netball in Levin mid-week and school netball on Saturdays. He was a regular in the Waiopehu College Senior A team this season, as either as goal-keeper or in goal defence.
It was the first season in which males had been permitted to play in Horowhenua and Kāpiti regional netball competitions, and while he enjoyed his time playing for his college and is happy to play his chosen sport anywhere and for anyone, being the only boy in the team can be a bit tough at times.
“You’re in a locker room all on your own. You don’t really have that connection. It would’ve been good if another guy was playing too,” he said.
