The release of the Oceania Netball World Cup Qualifiers draw has given Crest Fiji Pearls head coach Michelle Parsons greater clarity as the team enters the final stages of preparation for the tournament in Tonga.
Fiji will open its campaign against the Cook Islands on September 15, with the draw now allowing Parsons and her coaching team to fine-tune their preparations and match-day plans.
Parsons said her initial reaction to the draw was one of relief, as the schedule provided certainty around the team’s planning.
“My first reaction to the release of the draw was more around the ability to now plan and prepare our schedule and timings,” Parsons said.
“It’s always good to know who we are playing and when, so you feel settled with what is happening.”
Parsons highlights that knowing our’ first opponent would also help shape their preparation, with the team now able to study the Cook Islands and identify areas that could influence their approach.
“Knowing your first opponent does help you prepare. You look at any opposition knowledge you have that may help with your own preparation,” she said.
Parsons also spoke highly of the Cook Islands’ rich netball history and the legacy of players who have represented the nation at the international level.
“The recent passing of Ana Noovao hit the netball communities across the world and we mourned the loss of such a beautiful wahine alongside our Cook Island whānau,” Parsons said.
While respecting the Cook Islands’ history, Parsons is also well aware of the quality Fiji will face when the two sides meet in Tonga.
She said the Cook Islands squad brings together a combination of experience and emerging talent, making them a side Fiji cannot afford to underestimate.
For the Crest Fiji Pearls, the September 15 clash will be the first step in what is expected to be a highly competitive Oceania qualifying campaign, with the ultimate prize being qualification for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.
With the draw now confirmed, the countdown has moved another step closer to match day and Parsons believes having clarity around the schedule will allow the Pearls to focus on what matters most: preparing to perform when they take the court in Tonga.
The Oceania qualifiers will be held in Tonga from September 14–18, with Fiji opening its campaign against the Cook Islands on September 15.
