The Nasinu Volleyball Alliance has launched an exciting weekly tournament at the Vodafone Arena in Laucala Bay, Suva, revitalizing the indoor volleyball scene in Fiji. This initiative is aimed at popularizing volleyball as a mainstream sport throughout the country. To encourage participation, the organizers have waived entry fees, allowing teams to join the competition more easily.
Following international standards, the tournament reflects the association’s commitment to elevate the game locally to a global level. Tournament director Wilisoni Koroivueta emphasized this commitment by mentioning the use of the FIVB score sheet, which is the official scoring system used in international volleyball competitions.
Koroivueta noted the immense popularity of volleyball in Fiji, where almost every community has at least one court, creating opportunities for women and girls to compete in the sport. The tournament features a prize pool of $5,000 for men’s teams and $2,000 for women’s teams, highlighting the varying levels of team participation.
Beyond the financial rewards, the competition fosters a sense of pride and passion for the sport, aiming to establish volleyball as a staple in Fiji’s athletic landscape. To maintain organization, the tournament has implemented a ‘duty teams’ system, where teams will take turns managing responsibilities such as court setup, officiating, and scoring.
Stringent policies have been set in place to ensure discipline and commitment among participants. Koroivueta explained that late arrivals for duty teams would not be tolerated, and penalties including points deductions, fines, or disqualifications may result from failing to adhere to tournament standards.
Overall, this tournament transcends mere competition; it symbolizes the Nasinu Volleyball Alliance’s ambition to make volleyball a household name in Fiji, offering a hopeful future for the sport in the region.
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