So how do you rate their chances?
Near the Hoop contacted the captains or coaches of the teams except the two Division 5 teams for whom no one seems to have a contact and Division 2's Department of Labour, who just do not answer their telephones these days. Well profile the four divisions tonight and tomorrow morning and hopefully it will be something for you all to mull over.
Here's what they had to say;
Premier Division.
Anne Dobin as captain of Telikom 1, knows this is going to be a real test for the veteran side and the statistics show that if there was one team the ladies in blue have had a problem with this season, it has been NFA 1. "The team that makes the least amount of errors will win on Saturday" she said, reflecting the same sentiments as Cathy Solomon who will lead the Fisheries ladies onto the court this weekend. If you ask Pauline Parker, NFA's seasoned goal-attack, the tone is a little more effervescent inside the 11th floor offices of the Fisheries Authority, adding that the girls can't wait for this weekend's match-up. Cathy's more sober approach comes from the deep respect she has for the Telikom side who have quite an impressive collection of premier division trophy's on their mantelpiece and that the big game experience they possess cannot be discounted easily.
(above) National Fisheries Authority (NFA), and impressive
start to their premier division debut
(above) Telikom - seasoned campaigners "will have
to work hard this weekend" - Anne Dobin
"We started off in Div 5 and made our way up to the premier division and on Saturday we contest the grand final in our first year in the division".
When you think about it, that is an impressive record for the NFA Netball Club and something they should well be proud of.
On the other side of the ledger, Telikom have had a team in the premier division since the the inception of the PSNA competition in 1995 and have claimed nine (ten if you include the aborted finals) premierships from twelve starts along the way.
It continues to be an incredible journey for them and this weekend will again be another chapter in Telikom's great grand final campaign. Mary Gumia, Alice Koava, Anne Dobin, Goada Udi, Gewa Raula, Kerry Tarue and Marie-Teresa Toman all know this will be a tight match and that they will all need to lift their game if they are to overcome what is likely to be a revved up and enthusiastic NFA outfit on Saturday.
(above and below) images from an earlier NFA/Teikom encounter.
From all indications, it will be the ever present Gillian Ole and Thoa Solomon up front for the Fisheries ladies with Pauline Parker the sharp shooter near the hoop. The defenders will likely be Malaki Vavine and Roselyn Komangin with Lavu Iru tending the keeper position. Marie Alu no doubt will start as centre. Our guess is that Cathy Solomon will probably sit out the first half with Pau Kagena or sub when necessary, but we'll see on Saturday who actually takes the court.
Telikom know they will have to be watchful for this game as NFA has beaten them at every meet this season. If they do hold it together they will break an important hoodoo. NFA will be going into this grand final with a number of firsts, for themselves and the competition but as both captains best put it "The team that makes the least amount of errors, will hold up the trophy on Saturday".
Enjoy the game and the moment as this will be a special grand final for many. Be good sports and respect the umpire's whistle at every turn. Compete hard and play like there is no tomorrow but always remember at the back of your mind, it is still just a game.
At the end of the day it will be netball that wins, it will be the PSNA that wins, it will be the friendships and good sportsmanship that wins regardless of who holds the trophy aloft. Good luck to both teams and we'll let you be the judge on the day.
See you there, near the hoop.
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