MC Magazine 2017 FINAL FULL

VOLLEYBALL
Volleyball continues to be
a high performing, high
profile sport at Mangere
College.
In recent years the boys have
competed credibly at provincial and
national level tournaments. Our
girls teams, under the coaching
of Nancy Palelei, have scaled the
heights of national competitions as
Auckland champions and Division 1
medallists at nationals. This success
attracts many new players each
year and the girls
consistently field four
teams in Southern
Zone competitions.
Boys have a greater
challenge because
of the pull of other
popular codes that
are first-choice
options.
2017 has been a
rebuilding year for
both the boys and
girls programmes.
Positives include both
senior and junior
girls teams playing
in the Premier League grades and
our junior boys qualifying for their
Premier League for the first time
in over ten years. The growth of
each programme depends so
much on getting young players to
join and train as soon as they arrive
at our school and then keeping
them involved in our volleyball
development programmes.
A significant challenge for our
senior teams this year was the
demand placed on senior students
who were selected for key
leadership roles in both volleyball
and our successful Polyfest groups.
This is going to be a point of conflict
in the future for our teams, simply
because we do so well in both
areas and our senior students have
excellent leadership qualities that
see them in high demand from
so many quarters. Our players
have the option of leading in a
number of worthy activities. The
important factor for seniors will be
to signal their decisions to coaches
and teacher-in-charge in a timely
fashion so that intentions are clearly
communicated to all concerned.
This enables us to support them in
their pursuit of success in whichever
activity they select.
A strength within the volleyball
programmes is the continued
involvement of past players who
return to help
share their skills
and experience
with our younger
players. Gloria
Aiono, a member
of the New
Zealand womens’
team can be
found assisting
Nancy at team
practices in
addition to many
other volleyball
alumni.
A few of
our players
represented the Oceania-Auckland
U-19 team that played in Tahiti in
July - Italy Ng Lam in the men’s
team and Siata Ah Chong, Sela
Filisione and Uamiata Salaikeni in
the women’s. Siata and Uamiata
also played in the Open Women's’
team against the Tahitian national
side.
At our Sports Awards, the volleyball
awards went to: Most Improved
Player- Akesh Duot Deng (boys)
Victory Tilo (girls); Player of the Year
and Players’- Choice Player- Isaak
Samoa (boys) Uamiata Salaikeni
(girls)
Our thanks to all families who have
supported their young people in our
volleyball teams. Great appreciation
also for all volunteers and helpers
who give freely of their time to help
coach and officiate. Finally, a big
thank you to all those boys and
girls who make the commitment to
learn, practise and play. As it says
in Matthew, “Many are called, but
few are chosen”. Not everyone who
starts finishes the journey, but those
that stay with us certainly are ‘The
Chosen’.
-Nathan Samu
'...a big thank
you to all
those boys
and girls who
make the
commitment
to learn,
practise and
play.'
Mangere College - 2017 81