Dion Nukunuku: Difference between revisions

Dion Nukunuku (born 1970) is a former member of the New Zealand national softball team , called "The Black Socks". He was in the teams that won the world championship in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He has continued as a coach in the sport.

Early life

Nukunuku spent his childhood in Auckland and was educated at St Peter's College , which has traditionally been very prominent in the Auckland school boy softball competitions.

Playing career

Nukunuku commences paying senior level softball in 1985. Frrom then until 1987 he was in Hawkes Bay and played for the Flaxmere & Taradale club. In 1987 he started playing for the Marist and Metro Club in Auckland and also with Marist and Ramblers. He represented Auckland in NPC winning teams. In 1989 Nukunuku was a member of the world champion New Zealand Under 19 team in Prince Edward Island, Canada. He played Second Base in final against Canada.

In 1990 , Nukunuku was selected to be a member of the New Zealand Black Socks. The highlights of Nukunuku's senior International Career were<ref>Siftbal Allstars, Dion Nukunuku playing career (accessed 23 June 2010):

• 1990 - he was a member of the Black Socks team debut on the Canada Cup tour;

• 1992 - he was a member of the silver medal winning world series Black Socks team in Manila, Philippines where he played Second Base in the final against Canada;

• 1992 - he was a member of the silver medal winning world series Black Socks team in Manila, Philippines where he played Second Base in the final against Canada;

• 1996 - he was a member of the world champion Black Socks in Michigan, USA where he played Shortstop in the final against Canada;

• 2000 - he was a member of the world champion Black Socks in East London, South Africa where he played Second Base in the final against Japan;

• 2004 - he was a member of the world champion Black Socks in [Christchurch]], where he played Second Base in final against Canada;

• 2005 - he was a member of the gold medal winning Black Socks team at the Pacific Cup Series in Rotorua, playing Second Base in the final against Japan.

==Coaching career In 2005 Nukunuku was appointed Assistant Coach of the Junior Black Sox World Series team in Prince Edward Island, Canada. The team was placed fourht in that competition. In 2008, Nukunuku was Assistant Coach of the Junior Black Sox World Series team in White Horse, Yukon, Canada. The team was also placed fourth.

External link

Softball New Zealand (accessed 22 June 2010) Siftbal Allstars, Dion Nukunuku playing career (accessed 23 June 2010)