Netball: International players train at Oaklands ahead of Zeo International Series
England Netball practicing at Oaklands College. Picture: Danny Loo - Credit: Archant
Three international netball teams trained at Oaklands College on Friday ahead of the ZEO International Netball Tri-Series.
England Netball warm up during training at Oaklands College. Picture: Danny Loo - Credit: Archant
England, Jamaica and New Zealand all used the College’s Discovery Centre to warm-up for the competition which will see the teams face off over five days, starting on Friday, January 17, at Wembley Arena and the Copper Box Arena.
Fernanda Chiappinelli, Oaklands Academy’s netball director, told the Herts Ad that having the teams in was a “great advert” for the sport.
“It was a really good day; a little chaotic but really good and I think it was a good advert for netball and a profile of what it takes to be a professional and an elite athlete,” she told the Herts Ad.
Oaklands was chosen to accommodate the teams because it is Netball England’s official host college for the eastern region, a title given to it in November 2013.
The college’s netball programme started last year with just five students but 12 months down the line and 18 girls are signed on to the course, which aims to earn the players a spot on one of the country’s netball franchises.
“Having the international teams train here is really good for our netball programme,” added Chiappinelli.
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“We want the best girls in Herts to study with us and, in terms of what we can offer, today shows that we have the facilities to cater for international teams.”
“The college already has a really strong rugby programme but today shows that we have the facilities to accommodate international netball teams in terms of what we can offer.”
