The netball community in New Zealand, the Cook Islands and Australia are mourning the loss of former Silver Ferns' captain Ana Noovao, who has died aged 58.
The midcourter played for New Zealand between 1989 and 1992, picking up 23 test caps.
Netball New Zealand said the news deeply saddened it. In a statement, it said Noovao died peacefully on Sunday in Rockhampton, Queensland, after a long illness, surrounded by her family and loved ones.
Noovao, who was hugely proud of her Cook Island heritage, was a gifted wing attack with natural creativity and was known for her calm temperament on court.
Noovao was marked for the black dress early when she toured Canada with the New Zealand Young Internationals in 1986 and captained the New Zealand Under-21 side at the 1987 World Youth Championships.
She made her Silver Ferns debut against Australia in April 1989, aged 21.
Her rise was quick and the following year Noovao was promoted to vice-captain. In 1991 she was part of the Silver Ferns side that lost the World Championship final to Australia by a single goal, one of the most agonising results in the team's history.
When Waimarama Taumaunu retired in 1992, Ana was named the 15th captain of the Silver Ferns.
Ana went on to play two seasons for the Cook Islands, before coaching the national side to seventh place at the 2007 World Netball Championships in Auckland, an extraordinary result for a nation of fewer than 20,000 people.
Generations of South Auckland schoolgirls also came through her coaching sessions at local schools, and after moving to Queensland she kept playing and kept building the game in her new community.
"Ana carried the captaincy of the Silver Ferns with real grace, and she gave the game back far more than it ever asked of her, as a player, as a coach, and as a leader for Cook Islands netball," said Netball New Zealand president Dr Tina Karaitiana.
"Our thoughts are with her family, her team-mates and everyone she taught along the way."
-RNZ
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