Suva Netball is progressing well in its weekly competition, with the final round wrapping up yesterday and the finals series set to take place in the coming two weeks.
Throughout eight rounds of competition, the club successfully completed 415 games across nine registered divisions. A total of 89 teams from 12 clubs compete weekly at the National Netball Centre in Laucala Bay, Suva, enhancing the competitive spirit and expanding the talent pool.
“This year, we have restructured the minor grades compared to last year when we only had a single princess grade for ages nine to 13. Due to high interest, we added one grade for ages eight to 10, called the angels, and another for ages 11 to 13, known as the roses grade. The Princess grade is for ages 14 to 16, the development grade is for ages 17 to 19, and we also have the premier and queens grade for those 40 and older, as well as men’s and super grades, making a total of nine grades this year,” explained Games Coordinator Gabriel Qoro.
Qoro, a former national netball coach who oversees the matches, noted that teams reaching the finals will have played a total of 479 games over 12 weeks. He emphasized that this extensive playtime is crucial to their success each season.
“Our top eight teams in the super grade play a one-hour game every Saturday, showcasing our best talents. Our development grade players aged 17 to 19 are also excelling, and these athletes are selected to represent Suva in the ongoing FinanceHub Super League. Players are recognizing the effectiveness of our development programs, and many are joining Suva. This support system from grassroots all the way through to higher levels is key to our association’s success,” added Qoro.
The competition will take a break next week, allowing teams to prepare for the quarter-finals, which are scheduled for Saturday, August 17, at the National Netball Centre.