Tonisha setting goals for country and self Loop Barbados

Black Immigrant Daily News

When national netballer, Tonisha Rock-Yaw, played against St Lucia at the Americas Federation of Netball Association (AFNA) Qualifiers on October 17 in Kingston, Jamaica, it took her back to 12 years ago when she made her debut.

In 2010, a then 16-year-old Tonisha made her debut on the national senior team against her ‘mother country’ St Lucia, and unfortunately despite the valiant efforts of the Barbados Gems, they lost by one goal.

However, fast forward to 2022 – just over a decade later – the team emerged victorious. It was a momentous occasion for the 29-year-old who simultaneously celebrated her 50th international cap.

“Funnily, I’m part St Lucian as well and when I got my 50th cap, it against team St Lucia and also when I played in my first game in 2010, when I first made the national team, it was at the same netball qualifiers for the World Cup and St Lucia beat us by one goal I believe it was.

“So getting my 50th cap I started with a loss against St Lucia…and fast forward 12 years later, I’m reaching my 50th against team St Lucia and we won convincingly.

“I was so excited. I think I did a dance afterwards,” Tonisha told Loop with a chuckle.

From the time she was a ‘tot’, Tonisha was surrounded by netball, thus her love for the sport was fostered.

She played throughout primary and secondary school, representing the national team from when she was 15 years. She was a member of the Under-16 team, the Under-21 team and then the Senior team. Tonisha also received a netball scholarship to Bedes Senior School in East Sussex, England where she completed her secondary school education.

Throughout her sporting career, she has created a list of several goals for herself and achieving her 50th international cap is just another one ticked.

“I was in the sport for so many years. My goal was in the Under-16 team, 21-team and senior team and also I wanted to have at least 50 caps in my netball career. I didn’t want to end my netball career below 50 and I reached my goal,” Tonisha told Loop.

Tonisha Rock-Yaw at the 2019 Netball World Cup.

Achieving her 50th international cap doesn’t mean Tonisha is finished. The national player humbly reflected that she was grateful and lucky to reach this height, representing Barbados internationally, going across the continent to as far as Australia – all while injury-free. She noted that she was looking forward to playing ‘catch up’ with the likes of Barbados Gems team captain, Latonya Blackman, who has over 174 international caps.

“I still have a long way to go to get that. I don’t know if I’m going to ever reach that part of my career but it is a start for me. Hopefully, I can get a 100,” she expressed bright-eyed.

“…I’m still young and I don’t think it is time for me to finish and I want to keep pushing and striving for excellence every time I go on the court and I think that has gotten me this far. Right now, I’m at my 56th cap,” she added.

As a defender, Tonisha played a critical role in the Barbados Gems securing a spot for the 2023 Netball World Cup. Her next goal is to see the team reclaim its former glory as one of the Top 10 across the world.

“I want to see the team reach at least Top 10 again. I want to get back there again. It is a good sign for netball that we are still in the lead. We are still able to perform at high levels,” she indicated.

Barbados currently ranks 14th worldwide, and after an embarrassing defeat in the Qualifiers against Jamaica, they rebounded when they faced Antigua and Barbuda to secure their trip to South Africa.

All that is next for the ladies is to “train hard” and “keep netball alive” in Barbados.

Speaking of keeping netball alive, there have been times when Tonisha thought of quitting the sport.

As a journalist at the island’s leading radio station – Starcom Network – it was difficult to juggle being a professional player and also a media practitioner.

Both careers are occupations that call for discipline, commitment and long nights.

“As a media professional, it is hard already as it is with work. The many hours you have to put in, then having to balance and leave work many days and rush to netball training – you are already tired from work and you have to train – it was difficult and I wanted to give up,” Tonisha told Loop.

Her mother, Antonia Rock, a former netball player, kept her on the straight and narrow. When she wanted to call it quits, her mother pushed her to keep going.

“There some times in my studies and stuff that I wanted to give up because training wasn’t allowing me to study and remain focused. My mom pushed me a lot to try.”

When Tonisha isn’t chasing a story, she’s chasing a ball at the Gymnasium. But she shared nothing beats the swell of pride in her chest when she wears her national uniform and sees the Barbados flag raised at an international game or when a child says ‘Tonisha is my favourite player!’

“I do it for the love of my country and I do it for the love of my sport so putting on blue and yellow and going out there and saying I am from Barbados and I am representing Barbados, There is no incentive in netball at all, so it’s not to say I am doing it for money or anything. I am just doing it for the love of my sport. A majority of netballers are doing it because they love the country and they love the sport and there is nothing outside of that.”

“I always feel proud when my name is called. They say ‘Team Barbados’ and ‘Tonisha Rock-Yaw: Centre’ and my name is called out.

“It is so humbling and it is so relieving to see your hard work. You actually get to see it when you get on court,” she told Loop.

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