Netball Fiji says it intends to keep growing the men’s game in the country with international campaigns lined up for development of the sport.
The Fiji men’s team scooped the Tri Series Training Match title last week after an unbeaten run against the Fiji Pearls open squad and the Fiji Mixed team.
Fiji Men’s head coach Josaia Tuinamata said one of the main purposes of laying a solid platform for men’s netball in the country was to prepare early for the long run, looking at the high possibility of netball being included in the Olympics.
“We’re now building the platform for the 2032 Olympics. If World Netball is looking to go to the Olympics, then this is the platform we’re setting up to be part of the Olympics as well,” Tuinamata told Netball Fiji.
He also explained about the upcoming international campaigns that the Fiji Men’s team would be looking forward to.
“New Zealand will be organising a Men’s Fast Five Tournament and we’re looking forward to attending this tournament, and we’re also looking forward to some regional competitions moving forward,” said Tuinamata.
“Thanks to Netball Fiji, we’ve got competitions that are also engaging our local men’s teams from around the country, and we can see that the men’s netball competition is building. We have various men’s clubs that are coming up and also we have growing interests from young players.”
Netball Fiji CEO Vivian Koster said the Tri Series was a good hit out for the Fiji Pearls going up against a quality Fiji Men’s side.
She emphasised the growing excitement of netball in Fiji as the governing body continues to roll out men’s netball.
“This is not just for us, it’s also something Word Netball is encouraging, so we’re making sure we’ve got our foot in front of everyone else, so when there is a World Men’s Test Series, Fiji will be well prepared for it,” said Koster.
She said the vision is already in place for men’s netball in Fiji, and it was just a matter of taking one step at a time to get there.
