Teenage talent joins Kia Magic
Press Release September 17, 2013
Kia Magic have bolstered their roster for the 2014 ANZ Championship netball season with the addition of exciting teenage talent Jamie-Lee Price and Malia Paseka.
Defender Price, a student at Mt Albert Grammar School, made her debut with Kia Magic this year while shooter Paseka is transferring south after spending her first season in the semi-professional ranks with the Northern Mystics.
A talented playmaking shooter, Paseka, 18, was a member of the successful New Zealand under-21 team which recently outclassed Australia to win the World Youth Netball Championship in Scotland.
``I have been fortunate to watch Malia’s development from a very young age and I believe she is undoubtedly a potential star of New Zealand netball,’’ Kia Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald said.
``She is a very athletic player with exceptional timing and is capable of mixing it with much older and more experienced opponents. Malia was one of the stars of the triumphant New Zealand 21s, and it will be very exciting to watch the development of this young player over the next couple of years.’’
Similarly, there are big wraps on versatile defender Price’s future standing in the game. Price, 17, was co-captain of this year’s New Zealand Secondary Schools team which won the annual Trans Tasman Secondary Schools tournament.
She will team up with her fellow co-captain, midcourter Samantha Sinclair, who has also signed with Kia Magic.
In her final year at school, Price is excited to be returning to Kia Magic.
``Leaving school at the end of this year means I’ll be able to fully concentrate on just Kia Magic,’’ said Price, who was heavily involved with school netball throughout the last season.
``I’m really looking forward to putting sole focus on my second season with Kia Magic and excited by the opportunity of working with Julie (Fitzgerald).’’
Kia Magic now have 11 players on their books for 2014, leaving a further two to be named later this week.
Those confirmed are: Jamie-Lee Price, Malia Paseka, Grace Rasmussen, Jo Trip, Ellen Halpenny, Courtney Tairi, Casey Kopua, Leana de Bruin, Jo Harten, Brooke Leaver, Samantha Sinclair.
Jane Hunt
Kia Magic media liaison
Ph: 021-107-0287
