The netball community in Fiji and across the Oceania region is deeply mourning the loss of Wainikiti Naivalulevu Waqa Bogidrau, a prominent administrator and leader in the sport. At the time of her passing, she served as the president of Oceania Netball and held the position of World Netball Regional Director. Bogidrau was 56 years old and also worked full-time as the acting General Manager of Human Resources at the Fiji National Provident Fund.
Bogidrau passed away on Tuesday, and since then, tributes and condolences have poured in from various corners of the world, including heartfelt messages from family, friends, and numerous netball organizations, including World Netball.
Her journey into netball administration began over twenty years ago, and she made significant strides in the sport, serving as the president of Netball Fiji from 2010 to 2020. In 2019, she was elected president of Oceania Netball during their Annual General Meeting and subsequently appointed to the World Netball Board as the Director for Oceania, where she played a crucial role in advancing netball in Fiji and the region.
World Netball expressed profound sadness at her sudden passing, highlighting her as an inspirational leader whose dedication and enthusiasm for the game left a lasting impact. They noted her love for netball, her lifelong participation in playing and supporting the sport, and her commitment to fostering the development of netball in Oceania.
Vasiti Vugakoto, the former president of the Suva Netball Association, shared her gratitude for having Bogidrau’s guidance, acknowledging her visionary leadership, which opened up funding opportunities and made it possible for Fiji to secure the hosting rights for the Netball World Youth Cup in 2021, which ultimately could not occur due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bogidrau was also notable for her role as a secretary in Netball Fiji and her involvement in fundraising efforts to support the national team’s participation in tournaments. She was honored as a Life Member of the Fiji Netball Association in 2020 for her remarkable contributions.
Netball Fiji President RubyAnn Sorovaki and others throughout the netball community have expressed their deepest condolences to Bogidrau’s family during this difficult time, and her legacy as a trailblazer in netball administration will be fondly remembered.
In a hopeful note, Bogidrau’s life and work can inspire future leaders in sports administration, highlighting the importance of commitment and passion in making a positive impact within their communities and beyond.
Bogidrau will be laid to rest next Friday, leaving behind her daughter, who shares her name. Her contributions to the sport create a lasting legacy and stand as a testament to the positive influence one individual can have on an entire community.
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