It's hard to miss Niasi Malua. At 2m he stands out in a crowd but it is on the court where the centre is hoping to be noticed.
Northland Suns player and board member Travis McIlroy recently offered Malua the opportunity to join the Suns in their Conference Basketball League (nationalsecond division) campaign, which gets under way in July.
The affable 28-year-old grabbed the opportunity with open arms, and arrived in Whangarei during the week to start training with his new team.
"I met Travis last year when I played a few games for the Ngatiwai Soldiers in the Super City Basketball League, and when he asked me to play for the Suns I jumped at the chance ... so far Whangarei seems cool. I've met the guys - they are a good bunch and we've had a couple of trainings ... I think I will fit in just fine," he said.
Malua was raised by his grandmother in Nukunuku, Tonga but spent a lot of his childhood in Portland, US, where his parents are based. "That's where I learnt how to play basketball," he said.
He also has family based in Auckland - but Tonga is where he considers home to be - and one day he hopes to play basketball for the national side. "I was part of the Tongan Development squad a few years back, but basketball has died off in Tonga, but they are trying hard to get it back up and running. I would love to play for Tonga in the future."
For now, Malua's focus is on keeping fit, training hard, and helping the Suns execute a successful season. He brings a physical presence to the team with his size, which the Suns lacked last season, and is an effective defender. Most importantly, he already shares the common cause of his team. "Our goal is simple - we want to win this year," he said.
Malua will join the City Hawks in the Northland Suns Development Trust organised Whangarei Club League which started on Wednesday. The 20-week competition features six teams - City, Raumanga, Maunu, Kamo, DJs and Soundcave - and is contested on Wednesdays from 6pm at Kensington Stadium.
