The recent victory of the Crest Fiji men’s netball team at the Nations Cup in Singapore has paved the way for exciting opportunities in the future. As a result of their success, the team has received an invitation to participate in next year’s Men’s Nations Cup and a tournament in Australia.
Netball Fiji president RubyAnn Sorovaki highlighted this triumph, particularly the thrilling 55-54 win against the Australia Under-20 team to clinch the Merlion Cup, marking it as one of the federation’s standout achievements for the year. In addition to this, the 2025 calendar will also feature the Pearls’ PacificAus Sports series, promising a busy and productive schedule for the organization.
Sorovaki expressed gratitude towards the Fijian government and the Fiji National Sports Commission (FNSC) for their funding support, which has been vital for local tournaments, including the Under-21 Tri Nations Cup and an international men’s tournament. Plans are also underway to host a 17 & under tournament aimed at identifying and nurturing the next generation of U21 players as the current team transitions into the Pearls leading up to the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.
Other notable successes for Netball Fiji include the Fiji Pearls maintaining their 14th ranking from the previous year and receiving the title of organization of the year at the 2023 National Sports Awards. Sorovaki remarked on the experience gained during the U21 team’s initial competition in the Cook Islands, which provided valuable insights into the level of play.
Furthermore, improvements have been made in upskilling technical officials, exemplified by top umpire Litia Rabitu’s participation in officiating at the NWYC regional qualifiers. The federation has also secured funding from World Netball under the Strategic Development Fund to enhance its governance efforts. Training sessions for administrators, technical support officials, and volunteers are scheduled, along with rallies aimed at promoting netball activity across the country throughout the year.
As a final note, the selection of a new chief executive officer and Pearls head coach is anticipated soon, bringing further excitement and leadership to Netball Fiji.
This victory and the subsequent opportunities for the Crest Fiji men’s netball team represent a promising future, showcasing the potential growth and development of netball within the nation.
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