Meet Tobi Unuefa.

A highly academic and outgoing seventeen year old, who enjoys participating in theatre productions, aspires to be a lawyer and possesses a remarkable talent for the art of netbal.

The start of the passion

Tobi was first introduced to netball at her primary school, at the age of 7. Though a compulsory part of her education, she remarks that she as the years passed, she “grew to love it”. Her interest in the sport was strengthened by the support of her parents, who would register her for holiday camps for netball at the Redbridge Sport Centre. At the ripe age of eleven, Tobi had the opportunity to play netball on her borough’s team:

I was 1 of 2 people selected to represent Redbridge in netball for a year. This was the first ever club I played for and was the start of my netball career.”

She then went on to represent the London and South East region for netball, in 2016-17: a fifteen year old playing among those aged eighteen.

Training, Training and More Training

Previously Tobi trained three times a week, then playing matches on the weekend. However now, she trains twice a week: once with her club, Turnford, and once with her hub. The nature of her training varies form being highly fitness oriented to purely match-play and game technique focused. Despite only being at her current club for three years, Tobi has come to love it:

The coaches and my teammates have become a second family to me. We even all went out together the day before GCSE results day to celebrate!

It’s a really warm and welcoming environment, with everyone there being so lovely and supportive towards your ambitions outside of the netball world.”

The Balance between studies, social life and sport

Tobi, honestly admitted, that trying to juggle these three vital aspects of her life proved to be a difficult task in itself:

I found it the hardest to balance netball with studies last year, when trying to study for my GCSE, I even considered taking a break from netball.”

Regardless, she stressed that she was glad that she did not make that decision; despite the intensity of the training, Netball acted as an outlet where she could distance herself from the anxiety of her studies and exams. With the support and understanding from both her family and coaches, she was able to prioritise her academics while being able to enjoy netball.

Netball at Nationals

Remarking it as her most major tournament in recent years, Tobi had the extraordinary opportunity to attend the 2018 Nationals, representing the U16 division. Her teams determined approach to this tournament was motivated, according to Tobi Unefa, by their performance at the U14 Nationals, two years ago:

My team had come 6th in our U14 Nationals and we were incredibly disappointed as it was a defeat close to home, happening in Redbridge Sports Centre

Their extensive, strenuous training for the last few years had produced fruitful results, with them taking home the 1st place trophy for their category.

The Lessons of Netball

Having been committed to the sport for approximately nine years, Tobi asserts that playing netball has taught her key lessons, of which she applies in all of corners of her life.

Discipline, an important principle that she felt netball helped develop, through rigorous and frequent training sessions. She also feels that netball helped redefine her approach towards hardships, particularly in her relationships with those around her:

There are bound to be disagreements and there is always the possibility for fights to break out, but netball has taught me to be patient and ignore negative energy.”

Drawing all factors together, from her enjoyment of the sport to the skills it has taught her, netball has played a very significant role on shaping the person Tobi is today:

“I definitely feel as though netball is an important part of my life. I feel as though it has given me confidence and brought balance to my very busy life.”

Tobi’s Lasting Advice

When asked what words she would give as advice to her peers, Tobi decided to bring focus onto being student and an athlete:

My advice would be to try and find a happy medium between school work and sports because once you do, it will help you value your sports more as well as have so many beneficial health benefits