Video: The two Notts basketball players speaking to Jake Meskell
Two players from the Nottingham Wildcats basketball team have been announced in the provisional Team England squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.
Janice Monakana and Siobhan Prior have been announced in the provisional squad and the final team will be announced nearer the Games.
The 2018 Commonwealth Games take place at Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia from April 4 until April 15.
Janice has been fighting a seven month injury but is determined to be fit in time for final selection.
She said: “I think I’m confident after seeing the physio and going through a series of drills and seeing how my knee reacted to that, I’m confident I will be able to come back and hopefully make the team for the games.
“It means a lot – playing for your country on its own is just an honour and it would be an achievement for me personally.
“I would love to be able to play in Australia.”
Siobhan Prior gave up her day job to pursue her dreams in basketball.
She said: “When you first make that decision, it does feel a bit risky and you’re out there on a limb.
“I was listening to a podcast that was about the journey and I always had that idea in my head I would never give this year up again or I would always do it again for the journey.
“Whether I make it or don’t, it’s been a really good year and it’s nice to be able to challenge myself every day and see how far I can push myself.
“It would be the highest level competition I’ve ever played in and it would mean the absolute world.
“But I try not to think about the destination as amazing as it would be – I’m just focusing on every single day in the hope to get there.”
Every part of the athletes’ lives needs to be perfect in preparation for the Games.
Physiotherapist Carl Butler said: “It’s a full 360 degree holistic view – every part of their life has to be spot on.
“It’s also about hydration and how much they sleep, it’s not all just about training and how much they develop their skill in basketball.
“They have to be all-round athletes which includes the full way they look after themselves and their wellbeing.”
