The family that plays together

(From left) Victoria, Kelly, Auntie Karina and Metusela (front) pose for a family portrait at the...
(From left) Victoria, Kelly, Auntie Karina and Metusela (front) pose for a family portrait at the Edgar Centre earlier this week. Photo by Peter McIntosh.
Rugby, basketball, judo - you name it, at least one of the Nafatali clan is on the Otago team sheet.

Twenty-two-year-old Kelly Nafatali is a shooting guard in the Otago women's basketball squad and a very good netballer.

Twenty-year-old Victoria is a utility back for the Otago women's rugby team (Spirit) and Black Ferns squad member. She is also part of the New Zealand sevens development squad. Ten-year-old Metusela is the South Island age-group judo champion and auntie Karina (40-something) also plays for the Spirit.

They really are talented bunch those Nafatalis. Nafa - also known as Dad - and his wife, Raewyn, are both sporty themselves and helped foster a love of sport in their brood.

The couple have six children and they all play organised sport at a high level.

Dora (18) is a talented volleyball player who has represented her school (Otago Girls') at the national secondary school tournament. Mileniuma (13) is a keen rugby player and also loves judo and volleyball, and Hector (11) is into judo.

The close-knit Nafatalis really are that family that plays together and stays together.

Initially, though, Nafa was not that enthusiastic when all his children started joining teams.

He complained about the cost and the time involved ferrying his clan around. But he was quick to realise the benefits.

"We encouraged them from an early age," Nafa said.

"I used to get a bit grumpy because there was too much toing and froing. I got a bit anti but I realised it is really good for them and for their development.

"When our kids started getting involved we could see they were at trainings and at games and not hanging around town.""It keeps them out of trouble and it is something to keep them focused," Raewyn added.

You might think there would be some fierce rivalries in a household of sports nuts but the Nafatalis tend to play with each rather than against each other.

"The girls" started out playing social netball together but got so good they play in the second-tier premier B grade. The family also plays basketball, volleyball and touch together.

"The boys" have their judo.

Nafa attends the Renshuden Judo Club with his three sons.

Metusela was part of a small contingent from the club which attended the South Island Judo Championships in Rolleston earlier this month.

He stood out, cleaning up the junior divisions to win the over 36kg junior boys and junior boys open titles.

His team-mates, Dylan Murcott and William Gale, also did themselves proud.

Dylan won bronze in the senior boys over 45kg and William also achieved a bronze in the senior boys under 36kg.

 

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