The Trident Homes Tactix have called attacker Vika Koloto into their 2023 ANZ Premiership campaign to replace injured shooter Hannah Glen, which also opens the door for exciting teenager Taiana Day as a new training partner.
Koloto will replace Glen who has been ruled out of next year’s Premiership after suffering a knee injury at the Netball New Zealand Open Championships in September, while Day has taken up the role as training partner.
It will be Koloto’s second season with the side after making the shift south last year and the goal attack, who can slide across to the wing, said she was pleased to receive another opportunity with the Tactix and was looking to strengthen the connections she had made both on and off court.
“Every moment I stepped out on court was rewarding and I really want to prove myself next season. This year there were many challenges, due to catching Covid twice, but I was incredibly fortunate to have great support from the Tactix,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to pre-season and ensuring that I’m as prepared as I can be for when I’m given that opportunity to be out on court. I’m also excited to catch up with the team and meet the new players and hope I can be as welcoming as the Tactix were to me.”
Koloto’s elevation into the Tactix squad opens the door for New Zealand Secondary Schools shooter and New Zealand U18 Basketball 3x3 player Taiana Day to join the side as a training partner.
Her signing marks a big season for the talented athlete who, for the last three years, has been coached by former Silver Fern Te Aroha Keenan at St Peter’s School in Cambridge.
Day, who hails from Tauranga, was selected for the national secondary schools side this year and later this month will attend the Steven Adams basketball camp in Auckland before returning to Christchurch to work with the Tactix.
She said it had been a busy sporting year capped off by the chance to join the Tactix as a training partner as she aims to give netball her full focus.
“I’ve been spreading myself between two sports and doing okay, but I’m keen to concentrate on netball and see where that takes me,” she said.
With goals of making the New Zealand U21 side and earning a full contract in the ANZ Premiership, Day said she was looking forward to learning from some of the best netballers in the country.
“It’s all happened kind of suddenly, but I can’t wait for the opportunity to be a training partner alongside the likes of Aliyah (Dunn), Te Paea (Selby-Rickit) and Jane (Watson).”
Tactix Head Coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek said both Koloto and Day earned their respective spots with the Tactix, and she was excited to work with the two netballers.
“One of Vika’s strengths is that she has been in our environment this season and showed her willingness to learn and a ‘no-fear’ attitude of giving everything a go. She knows what to expect, brings that youthful enthusiasm to the court, and wants to keep building her game,” Delaney-Hoshek said.
“Taiana is an exciting young player and is eager to take that next step with her netball. I’m really looking forward to seeing what she can do within our environment as she turns her focus to netball.”
The Trident Homes Tactix open their 2023 ANZ Premiership on 6 March when they travel to Auckland to play the Stars.
