The recent victory of the Crest Fiji men’s netball team at the Nations Cup in Singapore has paved the way for exciting new opportunities. Following their impressive performance, the team has received an invitation to participate in next year’s Men’s Nations Cup and an upcoming tournament in Australia. This development was confirmed by Netball Fiji president RubyAnn Sorovaki, who highlighted the significance of the team’s narrow 55-54 victory over the Australia Under-20 squad, marking it as a pivotal achievement for the federation this year.
Additionally, the 2025 schedule will feature the Pearls in the PacificAus Sports series, alongside the men’s tournaments. Sorovaki expressed gratitude towards the Fijian Government and the Fiji National Sports Commission for their support, which has provided funding for local events, including an Under-21 Tri Nations Cup and an international men’s tournament.
Looking ahead, plans are underway to establish a 17 and under tournament aimed at nurturing the next generation of players as the current under-21 squad transitions to the Pearls leading up to the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup. The Federation also celebrated its successes this year, including the Fiji Pearls’ retention of the 14th place ranking and winning the Organization of the Year at the 2023 National Sports Awards.
Sorovaki also noted that the U21 team faced a valuable learning experience in their debut outing in the Cook Islands. Other highlights included the advancements made in training technical officials, with top umpire Litia Rabitu officiating at the NWYC regional qualifiers, and securing funding from World Netball’s Strategic Development Fund to enhance governance.
In addition, training sessions for administrators, technical support staff, and volunteers are in the works, complemented by rallies across the country to promote netball participation throughout the year. The announcement of Netball Fiji’s new chief executive officer and the Pearls’ head coach is also anticipated in the near future.
This continued growth and commitment to development within the sport bode well for the future of netball in Fiji, instilling hope and inspiration for aspiring players across the nation.
Leave a comment