Great plays fuelled by great nutrition - Tania Tupu

Tania Tupu, former Tall Fern and current coach of the Tokomanawa Queens, talks about her transition from player to coach, the exciting development of women's basketball in New Zealand, and the vital role of nutrition in the ongoing success of her team.

Basketball... Growing up, I always loved competing and threw myself into every sport, but as soon as I found basketball I fell in love and knew that I wanted to go as far as I could in the sport. I made my debut for New Zealand at age 18, going on to play 94 games, including two Olympic tournaments. Basketball also gave me the opportunity to study in the US, where I played for the University of Hawaii, winning the Big West and Conference Tournament in 1996. Once my playing career wrapped up, I really wanted to give back to a game which had given me so much. I started coaching junior age-group teams in Wellington. Eventually, that led to my current role as Head Coach of the Tokomanawa Queens.

Q. How have your experiences as a player influenced your coaching style? All those years and layers of experience certainly play a big part in who I am as a coach today. You definitely draw on the things that went well and those that didn’t, and the lessons learned in those different scenarios. As a player, I was a million-miles-an-hour. A really relentless player that fought for every possession, I wanted to play an exciting style of basketball. While every individual is different, I would like to think that my energy and combative spirit rubs off on at least some of the players I coach now.

Q. What role does nutrition play for your players in the Queens? Nutrition is so important to maximise your athletic performance, and it's something we place a big emphasis on at the Queens. Each of the girls takes responsibility for their own nutrition, but we do everything we can to ensure they have the right tools, providing tailored advice so that each individual knows they are getting the right type of fuel at the right time. Food also provides an incredible opportunity to come together – whether that’s with family, friends, or as a team. Whether we’re on the road or playing at home, we always provide the team with nutritious hot lunches or dinners after training and games. It’s a wonderful chance to relax, enjoy each other’s company, and strengthen those bonds which are so important for team culture.

Q. The Tauihi women’s basketball league has been a huge success and is now entering its third year. What can fans expect this season? It’s such an exciting time to be involved with basketball here in New Zealand. The game has absolutely exploded, and youth engagement is through the roof. At the Queens, we’re very aware of the role we play in elevating the women’s game and cherish every opportunity to represent our region. We’ve landed some incredible new talent this season, including WNBA star Jordan Horston from Texas; Tamari Key from North Carolina, USA; Jihyun Park from Seoul, Republic of Korea; Florencia Chagas from Buenos Aires, Argentina and Lou Brown from Melbourne, Australia. So, our supporters will see a whole new level of athleticism on court this year.

Q. What does the partnership with ANZCO Foods mean for the Tokomanawa Queens? Having ANZCO Foods as our naming rights sponsor has been fantastic. Their support has helped make our club sustainable in a professional competition and allowed us to invest in creating a high-performance organisation and culture. Partnering with one of New Zealand’s leading producers of premium grass-fed beef and lamb obviously has some other advantages too! Our athletes burn an amazing amount of energy. Beef and lamb are critical components for delivering the protein and amino acids they need to stay strong and recover properly. Beef and lamb are also critical for female athletes, to ensure that there is plenty of iron in their diet, which is another reason why we are such big fans of ANZCO Foods products here at the Queens.

Q. What’s your favourite beef or lamb meal? When I returned from overseas, all I wanted was my Mum’s famous roast lamb. Now the family and I are obsessed with boneless lamb shoulder, cooked on our charcoal barbeque – we have it on the menu every week!

Q. What advice would you give young girls aspiring to follow in the footsteps of their favourite Queens player? Master the fundamentals. Prioritise being a great teammate over being a great player. Turn yourself into a relentless defender, and shoot the hell out of the ball every day! Being great at something doesn’t come easy for most of us. Repetition is the key – it takes commitment, but learn to love the process. Eventually, you’ll see that hard work impact your performance on court, and it should also spill over into other aspects of your life, which will make you a better person.