New Zealand netball is mourning the loss of former Silver Ferns captain Ana Noovao, a trailblazing player and coach whose contribution stretched from the black dress to South Auckland and the Cook Islands. Two years later, at just 21, she made her Silver Ferns debut against Australia in April 1989. THE 15TH SILVER FERNS CAPTAINFollowing the retirement of Waimarama Taumaunu in 1992, Noovao was appointed the 15th captain of the Silver Ferns. PROUD COOK ISLANDS DAUGHTERNoovao was also deeply proud of her Cook Islands heritage. And the young Pacific athletes who could look at a Silver Ferns captain and see somebody whose journey reflected their own communities.