The presidents of 15 netball associations in Fiji have called for a Special General Meeting of Netball Fiji (NF) on Saturday, March 29, accusing the NF executives of multiple failures and demanding that the executives be replaced by an interim committee. The 15 have filed a motion of no confidence in NF president RubyAnn Sorovaki and NF’s executive committee and another motion to appoint an interim committee. The two motions were set out in a letter delivered to Sorovaki last Friday. Netball Fiji responded to it in a press release yesterday.
Motion one: Immediate vote of no confidence
The no confidence motion has set out 12 grounds.
1. Lack of good governance
The letter claims the current leadership failed to adhere to established governance protocols, a failure that resulted in moves it said did not properly reflect the best interests of NF and the sport in Fiji. It listed a lack of consultation on key matters, the questionable appointment of NF officials, team officials and national players with concerns raised on favouritism, a lack of equal representation from all divisions in the executive committee and national teams. The officials lamented the lack of consultation in the restructuring of NF and the appointment of a CEO and other paid officials, as well as failing to adhere to good governance protocols when dealing with council matters at Annual General Meetings (AGMs).
2. Fiji Pearls ranked 16th globally
According to World Netball, Fiji now sits at 16th place with 2026 points. Meanwhile, their fellow Pacific Island team, Tonga, sits in ninth place with 2934 points. Fiji’s recent ranking comes after their participation at the PacificAus Sports Netball Series in Brisbane, Australia. Fiji was unable to qualify for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. Before that Fiji finished in 12th place at the 2018 games where it lost 32-81 to Wales. The 15 presidents attributed the team’s decline to a lack of strategic planning, inadequate high-performance programs and poor leadership at the top.
3. Lack of professionalism
The letter claimed unprofessional conduct by NF leaders that has undermined the organisation’s integrity and those of its member associations. They claimed inadequate communication and release of papers for AGM and other Council meetings, a failure to answer member queries clearly and transparently at AGM and Council meetings and the failure to provide full and transparent reports to members as examples of this.
4. Financial matters kept in the dark
The letter said NF had not issued full and transparent accounts to AGMs for deliberation and had failed to provide financial reports to the Council before the AGM to view and prepare themselves as areas that lacked transparency. Examples of these claims included failing to present full and complete records to the AGM, failing to approve an auditor at the 2023 AGM and the presence of discrepancies in the 2023 financial reports and a lack of transparent discussions at the AGM itself.
5. Lack of good governance, transparency and fairness
The letter claimed this occurred when amendments in the constitution allowing for executives to retain a large number of votes and effectively shut out votes put forth by members, were not addressed.
6. Pearls poorly managed
The letter raised concerns on what it says has been the poor management of the Fiji Pearls and credited this as the reason for the team’s decline on the regional and international stage, inviting public criticism as a result. “This decline has not only affected the morale of players and supporters but has also subjected players to unwarranted criticism and ridicule on social media,” the letter stated.
7. Loss of sponsorship
Addressed in the letter was the lack or loss of sponsors for the sport due to undesirable performances by national teams internationally. This also meant the lack of investment into netball at grassroots level. It pointed out team under-performance, a lack of strategic direction and the uncertainty surrounding Netball Fiji’s growth and financial stability as examples of this. The letter lambasted current leadership for not being transparent about sponsorship deals made for the local Super League competitions.
8. No development at district level
The letter claimed the lack of support, training facilities and development programs at grassroots level as key reasons why associations were unable to groom formidable players capable of representation at all levels, linking it to the lack of sponsorship and support, saying the absence of a national championship last year was an example of this.
9. No pathway for young players
The letter suggested the introduction of structured netball programmes in schools to harness the capability and teamwork within players as a way of also instilling discipline and resilience among students. It deplored the lack of focus and development at these levels by the executives, which it said indicated their lack of foresight to the development of netball.
10. Nepotism, conflict of interest in appointments
The letter claimed this was prevalent at an executive level and in the national teams, when the appointment of officials in the former and players in the latter were made because of family relations.
11. Lack of development of coaches, umpires
This was another point raised under the motion of no confidence, which claimed there has been no development set out to provide a way forward for netball and the lack of training for local coaches and umpires over the past eight years.
12. Disinterest in unity in netball
The final point criticised the executive’s lack of collaboration with affiliated districts and its lack of transparency in selection processes as an “ongoing disconnect between the executive leadership and its affiliated members has further hindered progress and unity within the sport.”
Motion two: The appointment of an interim committee
The presidents of the 15 associations have laid out six steps to be taken in appointing an interim committee that will be in office for no more than four months, including to:
- Take over operations only of Netball Fiji under Clause 6.9 of the constitution for the relevant period
- Amend the constitution through wide consultation and organise an SGM to discuss and pass amendments
- Call for nomination of new executives under the new rules. No member of the Interim Committee shall be eligible to be nominated to an executive position
- Organise a special general meeting to discuss and pass the amendments to the constitution and election of new executives
- Appoint an independent Chairperson for the SGM
- Hand over operations of Netball Fiji to new executives.
Netball Fiji responds
A press release by Netball Fiji yesterday stated the executive committee was reviewing the request and would respond and act accordingly within the prescribed governance framework. “Netball Fiji remains committed to transparency, good governance, and the best interests of the sport and its stakeholders,” the statement said. “We assure our members and the wider netball community that all matters will be handled with fairness, and in accordance with our governing principles.” The letter was also sent to the Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Sashi Kiran and Education Minister Aseri Radrodro. FASANOC CEO and Secretary General Vanessa Kilner and Netball Fiji’s vice presidents Kitione Waqavonovono and Akanisi Lupe Drasuna, its treasurer Courtney Bitu and secretary Myrtle Smith were also sent a copy of the letter.
