The netball community in Fiji and the broader Oceania region is deeply mourning the passing of Wainikiti Naivalulevu Waqa Bogidrau, a prominent figure in netball administration who served as the president of Oceania Netball and held the position of World Netball Regional Director at the time of her death. Bogidrau, who was 56 years old and an acting General Manager of Human Resources at the Fiji National Provident Fund, passed away on Tuesday.
Messages of condolences have come in from around the globe, highlighting the impact Bogidrau had on the sport. As a former journalist, she began her journey in netball administration over twenty years ago, serving as the president of Netball Fiji from 2010 to 2020. Her leadership was instrumental in major developments in netball, both within Fiji and across the Oceania region.
World Netball expressed its sadness at her sudden passing, celebrating her as an integral member of the netball family whose passion and leadership were influential. They described her as an inspirational leader whose love for netball touched many lives in Fiji and beyond.
Vasiti Vugakoto, former president of the Suva Netball Association, reflected on how Bogidrau opened up many funding opportunities, including the unsuccessful bid for Fiji to host the Netball World Youth Cup in 2021, which was ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The legacy of Bogidrau’s leadership is apparent in her numerous contributions, from becoming Life Member of the Fiji Netball Association in 2020 to spearheading fundraising initiatives that helped send teams to international competitions. Netball Fiji’s president, RubyAnn Sorovaki, acknowledged her groundbreaking contributions, stating, “She will be dearly missed.”
Her influence extended beyond Fiji, with tributes pouring in from various netball associations, including Netball South Africa, which praised her tremendous contributions to the sport.
Bogidrau will be laid to rest next Friday, leaving behind her daughter, who shares her name, and a rich legacy that future generations in netball will continue to build upon.
In conclusion, while the loss of Wainikiti Bogidrau is profoundly felt, her legacy of leadership and dedication will continue to inspire and shape the future of netball in Fiji and Oceania. This is a reminder of the positive impact one individual can have on a sport and the lives of many.
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