THE national netball under-21 team will play Australia and New Zealand next year.
The pre-world cup matches would allow Fiji to play Australia, NZ, Cook Islands and Samoa which would also allow coaches Vicki Wilson and her assistant Filo Korovulavula to select their best Youth World Cup contenders.
Yesterday, in another training session, Korovulavula, who had been doing the hard yards at home before Wilson jets in on January 4, said 16 players had been preparing for the tournament.
“She has given us the program which we’re currently working on and she will arrive next Wednesday. For now these are the 16 players who would play in the upcoming competition,” Korovulavula said.
Three players, Korovulavula said had been rested to allow other players to showcase their worth before the final selection.
“Some girls have been outstanding in their games and fitness while others need to improve. Endurance level is getting there, but this competition will be a very good testing ground for the locals.
“We have been questioned by some parents on selection, so we ask them to be at the games to watch their daughters perform. We would like to see their strengths from here.”
Korovulavula said the competition which would begin on January 11 at the Vodafone Arena, Suva, would also be where they would try and work out their best combination before preparation for the Netball World Youth Cup start in Botswana next July.
Three overseas-based players are also expected to jet into the country before these games. They are Ana Moi, Kelera Nawai and Vilisi Tavui.
