Strong-armed Tactix

20th May 2009

Tactix defender and England captain SONIA MKOLOMA talks to Nick Tolerton before Saturday's home match against her old team Central Pulse.

What part of England are you from, Sonia? I'm from West London, born and raised. I played for a London-based team, Brunel Hurricanes.

How different is the ANZ league standard from the UK? It's a semi-professional league so it has to be better. They've delivered in all aspects. It's more international - you're playing against international netballers past and present, so each game is that quality game, so it's really good. In the UK you had your easy runs, and you could take it for granted a little bit. Here the teams are quite evenly spread and every game is one or two points, and that's what you need at this level.

Can the Tactix still achieve things this season? Oh yeah. It's been hard for us with some girls coming back from pregnancies, and trying to mesh the team. Where we started pre-season, and where we are now, it's a completely different team. We're getting better and there's nothing more you can ask.

Your old team Pulse this weekend. They haven't had a win in two years. Can they test you? Definitely. Playing for the Pulse last year, we took the Tactix to overtime twice - and the Tactix were seen as a top-rated team.

Women's sport seems to get more attention here than UK? Yeah, it's refreshing, women being appreciated for what they do alongside men's sports, it's completely different. The fact this nation's stepped forward and said, yep, we'll recognise our female athletes, that's a great achievement. In England it's not like that. And it's not good enough.

Funniest thing seen on court? You see some crazy hits and people get taken out, and a lot of girls run into the posts. It's quite funny when it's someone you know.

Been a victim of a big hit yourself? Yeah, I got slightly concussed playing last year for the Pulse. Some of the girls have got pictures of it and every now and then they'll send me a picture of me on the floor. I got an elbow to the head from Romelda (Aiken).

Your likes and dislikes. Favourite movie? I don't like to watch movies twice over. But I went through Kill Bill a lot. I'm quite into a bit of horror and crime stuff. It changes with my mood.

TV? Eastenders.

Music? Right now R&B;, hip hop. The other day I downloaded Lady Gaga's album.

How do you rate Kiwi blokes? More masculine! English boys are all a bit skinny and scrawny and not really athletic. You come here and the guys are taller and better built and being netballers we're all quite tall, and it's nice to find a guy taller than you!

Favourite holiday destination? The Caribbean. I've been to Trinidad a few times, and I go for the carnival which is good fun with friends. You get the sun and sand and the music and you get to dance. It's been No.1 so far. Barbadoes is a bit too slow for me - sorry, Gran!

Last book you read? The last was a Jodi Picoult book.

Christchurch nightlife. Dull after London? I went to the De La Soul concert last week. It was good. It's quite refreshing that you don't have to pay to get in everywhere here, whereas in England you pay everywhere and you kind of stay in one club. Here you've got the flexibility where if somewhere's not good you can go to somewhere else. But people tend to drink a lot here - loads of binge drinking compared to the UK.

Interests away from netball? Everything. I like travelling. But I don't like adventure holidays. It's always to do with sunshine, beaches, and shops!

Your teammates. Who spends most time in front of the mirror? That might be me. That might just be me.

Fashionista? Victoria Smith.

What do you think of our Kiwi fashion designers that we're so proud of? You're not proud! It's terrible. Coming from Europe, we're quite sophisticated and we've got a bit more style!Everywhere here is a bit more conservative and, can I say, frumpy. The ladies have got great curves here but they don't flatter themselves and wear things that emphasise it. I think everyone's a bit too conscious of showing a bit too much. Things aren't really tight enough. But fashionwise, yeah, sorry guys!

Who's the team stirrer? Larrissa Willcox is a little practical joker. She told the coach she was pregnant - on April Fools Day. And got, like, an Oscar trophy as well, cos the coach fell for it. It was the best April Fools I've seen in a long time.

What do you want to do after netball? Marry a millionaire in a hot country somewhere, and live in a mansion. Have a holiday home. Maybe a little island and live on a yacht. And I'm going to be just spoilt rotten and able to go shopping whenever I want. If not, I'll be a couch potato and watch TV all day!