Silver Ferns captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio has announced she will not play in any international netball games this year. She said she needs a break to rest her “mind, body, and spirit.”
Ekenasio, who is 34 years old, has played for the Silver Ferns since 2014. She has represented her country 79 times and helped lead the team to big victories, including winning the 2019 Netball World Cup and several Constellation Cup and Taini Jamison Trophy titles.
This isn’t the first time Ekenasio has taken a break. She also stepped away from the team during the 2023 Nations Cup, saying the decision was difficult but necessary for her well-being.
Coach Dame Noeline Taurua supports Ekenasio’s choice. “The load can be immense,” she said, noting the challenges of being a mother, a leader, and a top athlete. “Sometimes being everything to everyone simply isn’t sustainable.”
With Ekenasio unavailable, the coach may look to other players like Grace Nweke, who is currently playing in Australia. The Silver Ferns will need strong leadership as they face South Africa in September and Australia in the Constellation Cup this October.
Ekenasio became team captain in 2021 and returned to lead again after the birth of her second child.
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