The recent victory of the Crest Fiji men’s netball team at the Nations Cup in Singapore has paved the way for additional opportunities in the coming year. The team has earned an invitation to participate in next year’s Men’s Nations Cup and an upcoming tournament in Australia, as confirmed by Netball Fiji president RubyAnn Sorovaki.
Sorovaki highlighted that the thrilling 55-54 win against the Australia Under-20 team to secure the Merlion Cup stands out as one of the federation’s significant achievements this year. She also mentioned that the 2025 calendar will feature the Pearls’ PacificAus Sports series.
Moreover, she expressed gratitude to the Fiji Government for their support through the Fiji National Sports Commission (FNSC), which has provided funding for local tournaments, including an Under-21 Tri Nations Cup and an international men’s tournament.
Plans are underway to potentially host a 17 and under tournament, aimed at scouting future talent as the current Under-21 players transition to the Pearls team, particularly in anticipation of the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.
Netball Fiji’s successes are noteworthy, including the Fiji Pearls maintaining their 14th ranking from the previous year and receiving the “Organization of the Year” award at the 2023 National Sports Awards. Sorovaki mentioned that the Under-21 team’s first experience in the Cook Islands was an eye-opener regarding their competition level.
Additional accomplishments include the upskilling of technical officials, with esteemed umpire Litia Rabitu officiating at the NWYC regional qualifiers, along with receiving funding from World Netball’s Strategic Development Fund for governance improvements. There are also extensive training sessions planned for administrators, technical support officials, and volunteers, alongside rallies scheduled nationwide to promote netball participation throughout the year.
In the near future, Netball Fiji is expected to announce a new chief executive officer and head coach for the Pearls.
Overall, the developments in Netball Fiji signify a bright future for the sport, showcasing not only competitive growth but enhanced governance and community involvement. As teams like the Crest Fiji men’s netball continue to achieve international recognition, the sport’s popularity and support at all levels are likely to flourish.
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