Nadi Divas carry Fiji spirit to Sydney

NETBALL is more than a sport — it is a connection to home.

That connection has now crossed the Pacific, with the newly formed Nadi Divas Netball Club established in Sydney, Australia, to provide Fijians living abroad with an opportunity to stay connected to their roots through the sport they grew up playing.

Formed at the end of July this year, Nadi Divas is still in its infancy.

Club president Vilikesa Tuinilotu believes the club has a much bigger purpose than simply competing on the netball court.

“Our vision is simple — to bring our Fijian community together through netball, right here in Sydney,” Tuinilotu said.

“For so many of us who’ve made Australia our home, the sport we grew up with back in Fiji is more than just a game. It’s family, it’s belonging, it’s home.”

The Sydney-based team is built around the idea of creating a proud Fijian netball presence in Australia while providing a pathway for players who may otherwise struggle to continue developing their talents.

Tuinilotu said the club recognised the number of talented Fijian players living in Australia who had no clear avenue to represent their roots or pursue higher levels of the sport.

Many had moved to Australia for work, study or family commitments, but their passion for Fiji and netball remained.

“We thought, why should distance stop us?” he said.

“Nadi Divas has always been about lifting our people up, so expanding that mission to our community in Australia felt like the most natural next step.”

The club also wants to create opportunities beyond competition.

Tuinilotu said players would be able to develop their leadership and confidence while gaining access to coaching, high-performance training and opportunities to be identified for representative honours.

A key part of the team’s strength is the experience within its playing group, with former Fiji Pearls players Unaisi Rauluni and Akisi Bolakoro bringing valuable international experience to the squad.

Their knowledge of high-level netball is expected to provide guidance for the younger and developing players as the club establishes itself in Sydney.

For Nadi Divas, however, the uniform represents more than performance.

Culture remains at the centre of the club’s identity.

“We carry Nadi in our name, we carry Fiji in our hearts,” Tuinilotu said.

“Our culture guides how we play, how we treat each other, and how we support one another off the court.”

The club hopes that connection will also extend to the next generation of Fijian children growing up in Australia, allowing them to understand their heritage while participating in a sport that remains deeply rooted in Fijian communities.

The long-term vision is even bigger.

Nadi Divas wants to establish a direct pathway between its Sydney-based players and the Nadi Divas programme in Fiji, giving outstanding performers opportunities to train, tour and potentially push for national selection.

“It doesn’t matter where you live if you have Fijian blood, the talent and the heart, you should have the same chance to represent our nation,” Tuinilotu said.

The journey, however, will not be without challenges.

Funding remains one of the biggest hurdles for the newly established club, with the team relying on community support, sponsorships and fundraising to meet costs associated with courts, equipment, travel and competition fees.

Recruitment and administration will also require significant commitment from volunteers balancing studies, full-time employment and family responsibilities.

But Tuinilotu believes the strength of the Fijian community will help overcome those obstacles.

For the club, success in its first year will not simply be measured by trophies.

Building a full squad, training consistently, competing strongly in local competitions and creating a supportive family environment are among its immediate goals.

That journey reaches an important milestone at this year’s Mana Pacific Netball Cup, which began yesterday with the opening ceremony and concludes today at the Dot Lamberton Netball Courts in Blackett/Emerton, New South Wales.

It is Nadi Divas’ first appearance at the tournament and represents an opportunity for the newly formed club to measure itself against Pacific opposition.

“We’ve left no stone unturned,” Tuinilotu said.

Training has increased in intensity and duration, with the team working on match scenarios, set plays, fitness and team chemistry while studying opponents through game footage.

Their focus will be on three key areas — defence, ball movement and composure.

For the players, the Mana Pacific Netball Cup is more than another tournament.

It is their first major opportunity to wear the Nadi Divas jersey on a bigger stage and demonstrate what the club represents.

“For the club, it’s proof that our vision works and that we belong at this level,” Tuinilotu said.

“It’s more than a tournament; it’s a statement.”

Nadi Divas is determined to keep the Nadi spirit alive in Sydney while building a bridge between Fijians at home and abroad through netball.

Former Fiji Pearls players Unaisi Rauluni, second from left, and Akisi Bolakoro, second from right, with their team in Sydney, Australia. Picture: SUPPLIED