Goodman Fielder Fiji (GFF) has partnered with the Fiji Netball Association to sponsor the Fiji Secondary Schools Netball Championship, scheduled for August 21 to 23 at the National Netball Centre in Laucala, Suva. This year’s event will be branded as the Crest Chicken Fiji Secondary School Netball Championship.
Vivian Koster, the CEO of Netball Fiji, highlighted the importance of this partnership in promoting netball at the secondary school level. “It not only supports our school-based athletes but also helps grow grassroots netball,” Koster stated. She further noted that the schools are instrumental in developing future Fiji Pearls, with a 21 and under squad currently training for the Netball World Youth Cup, which includes 17 secondary school students.
A total of 132 teams are expected to participate in this year’s championship, which will feature six grades, including a boys’ grade. Each grade will consist of 22 teams, selected from rallies held across the country, bringing together approximately 1,980 players.
Navitalai Naivalu, president of the Fiji Secondary Schools Netball Association (FSSNA), expressed gratitude for Goodman Fielder’s ongoing support of netball development in Fiji and anticipates further collaboration in the future.
Tim Carter, general manager of GFF, expressed excitement about the involvement with secondary netball. “We see grassroots netball development as an opportunity to grow, and it is inspiring to witness more males participating in competitions,” he said. Carter emphasized their commitment to providing quality, affordable protein sources for athletes in Fiji, noting that even if some athletes do not reach elite levels, their contributions will still be valuable to the sport locally.
The sponsorship aims to empower Netball Fiji to create a platform for local young talents, helping them to reach their potential as future representatives in netball.