JIOWELI Vakamoce’s coaching journey is one shaped by passion, growth, and opportunities.
His coaching career began in 2008 when he was selected to lead the Suva 2 women’s team in the Netball Super League.
Although his team lost to Suva 1 in the final, it marked the beginning of his involvement in netball.
At the time, Vakamoce didn’t consider coaching as a long-term career but continued to assist his Alumni Netball Club with coaching whenever needed.
His real coaching journey began in 2021 when he volunteered to assist Netball Fiji with the Fiji Pearls’ preparation for the World Cup qualifiers and World Championship in 2023.
This experience made him realize his love for coaching and the need to develop his skills further.
Netball Fiji supported his growth by allowing him to complete two levels of Coaching Accreditation through Netball Australia.
Vakamoce also took on a part-time coaching role at the University of the South Pacific in 2023 while maintaining his full-time job as a senior administrative officer in the recruitment unit at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
Despite his busy schedule, his passion for coaching and netball only grew.
One of the key milestones in Vakamoce’s coaching career came last year when he led the Crest Fiji Men’s netball team to victory at the Men’s Nations Series in Singapore.
The team won the Merlion Netball Cup, defeating the Australian under-20 team 55-54.
This victory marked Fiji’s first international outing since 2004, and it was a proud moment for Vakamoce and the team.
“I continue to do this because of my passion for this sport,” Vakamoce said, reflecting on his commitment to coaching.
Following this success, Vakamoce now finds himself in a temporary role as the head coach for the Fiji Pearls, as they prepare for the upcoming PacAusSports Series in Brisbane next month.
Taking on the new role can be both thrilling and demanding, that is precisely how he feels about his new role.
Vakamoce has only five to six weeks to prepare the team, and his priorities are clear.
“The focus is fitness and the team combinations. It is going to be an intensive 5 to 6 weeks, and with the support I’m getting, I’m sure we will be able to achieve our goal.”
Balancing between both teams is a challenge, but Vakamoce is prepared with strong management support and adaptable plans.
“The challenged is in implementation, but that’s where coaches come in to motivate and push players,” he said.
Communication remains a cornerstone of his coaching philosophy.
“Communication is key in everything,” Vakamoce shared after a career changing 2024 season.
“I need to align my coaching schedules with Netball Fiji’s goals and continue to discuss issues that need to be addressed.”
From his early days as a volunteer coach to leading the men’s team to victory and now taking on the temporary role with the Fiji Pearls, Vakamoce’s journey in netball coaching reflects his unwavering passion and commitment which is sure to take him a long way.
Jioweli Vakamoce (centre) speaks to his team in
Singapore. Picture: NATIONS SERIES
