Mojo Pulse hits the right spot for coffee-loving Pitman

Mojo Pulse hits the right spot for coffee-loving Pitman

A love of coffee makes the move to Mojo Pulse easy for the versatile Chelsea Pitman, who joins the squad for the 2016 ANZ Championship campaign.

Pitman was a member of the Firebirds team that won the Championship in 2011 and was a key part of the Queensland-based franchise for a further two seasons, which included a narrow Grand Final defeat to the Adelaide Thunderbirds in 2013.

The 27 year-old has also played for the Canterbury Tactix (2010), the West Coast Fever (2014) and this season took a break from the ANZ Championship to turn out for the Manchester Thunder.

“I’ve had a great year with Manchester Thunder,” she explained. “I made some great friends, learnt a new style of netball and got to experience what the UK had to offer with Super League. I really enjoyed being coached by Tracey Neville and I can take a lot from what I learnt from her and apply that to my netball going forward.”

Pitman was born in New South Wales and earned 15 international test caps with the Australian Diamonds, including being a member of the World Cup winning team in 2011, however her true roots lie in New Zealand. Pitman is a New Zealand passport holder and is looking forward to returning to the country to play the sport she loves.

“I cannot wait! I feel a big sense of 'home' when I am in New Zealand, because all my family, apart from my direct family, is in NZ,” she said.

“Growing up, New Zealand was where we spent every school holiday and Christmas, so I am excited about being closer to them.”

Pitman is particularly looking forward to moving to Wellington and indulging in her second love: coffee. “I am looking forward to the coffee, I am a massive coffee lover."

It’s easy to see why Pitman is so motivated to make the move to the Mojo sponsored Pulse, but coffee aside; Pitman believes she can help make a difference to the Pulse’s winning performance.

“The Mojo Pulse is a team on the rise. Each year they are improving and this is such an amazing opportunity to grow more as a player and add another dimension to my game. I am also up for the challenge of helping to make a difference to hopefully get the Pulse on the successful end of winning games more consistently.

“After having numerous talks with Tanya about her style of coaching, vision and pathway to achieve success, I knew this was a great move for me. I am also keen to meet my new teammates and getting to know everyone, but I am really looking forward to just getting stuck into training and back into that competitive environment.

There will be one final milestone for Pitman before she joins the Pulse and that will be to tie the knot with New Zealand rugby league international Kevin Locke this December.

Mojo Pulse Head Coach Tanya Dearns was keen to secure Pitman, given that she can play in the midcourt at wing attack and centre, as well as in the shooting circle at goal attack.

“My focus during the recruitment process for 2016 has been about finding a point of difference and securing Chelsea really enforces that,” acknowledged Dearns. “She brings a world championship title, a wealth of international experience, having just finished playing in the UK Super League, several years of ANZ Champs and a level of intensity that will add huge value to what we want to achieve going forward.

“I have been an admirer of how she plays the game for a number of years. Her vision and strength to the circle edge is outstanding and the added bonus is her versatility to play in the circle.

“To say I am excited about our potential attacking combinations is an understatement,” she added.

Pitman joins Katrina Grant, Phoenix Karaka, Elias Shadrock and Whitney Souness as confirmed Mojo Pulse signings for 2016.

ENDS

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