Goodman Fielder Fiji has partnered with the Fiji Netball Association to sponsor the upcoming Fiji Secondary Schools Netball Championship, set to take place from August 21 to 23 at the National Netball Centre in Laucala, Suva. The event will be titled the Crest Chicken Fiji Secondary School Netball Championship.
Vivian Koster, CEO of Netball Fiji, highlighted that this collaboration aims to promote netball at the secondary school level. She emphasized the importance of supporting school-based athletes and nurturing grassroots netball, stating, “Our schools develop our future Fiji Pearls. We currently have a 21 and under squad preparing for the Netball World Youth Cup with 17 secondary school students in that squad.”
This year, the championship will feature 132 teams competing across six grades, including a boys’ category. Each grade will comprise 22 teams selected from various rallies across the country, leading to an estimated total of about 1,980 players participating in the national event.
Navitalai Naivalu, president of the Fiji Secondary Schools Netball Association (FSSNA), expressed gratitude for Goodman Fielder’s ongoing support for netball development in Fiji and anticipated more collaboration in the future.
Tim Carter, general manager of GFF, shared his enthusiasm for being involved with secondary netball, recognizing grassroots development as an opportunity to expand participation, especially among males. He praised the netball association’s efforts and their commitment to the sport’s growth in Fiji.
Carter also reiterated Goodman Fielder’s commitment to providing quality, affordable nutrition for athletes and fostering talent development, which may enable students to have a future in netball, whether at an elite level or through local contributions to the sport. The sponsorship is designed to empower Netball Fiji in creating a platform for young, local sporting talents, helping them realize their potential as future representatives in netball.