FIJI Pearls head coach Michelle Parsons has expressed great enthusiasm following yesterday’s final invitational trials at the Fiji National University gymnasium in Nasinu, praising the impressive depth of talent uncovered as preparations ramp up for the Netball World Cup qualifiers.
With over 90 players turning out, Parsons was full of admiration for the high standard, commitment, and quality displayed by those competing for places in the national setup.
“I was genuinely thrilled by what I saw today,” Parsons said.
“We start training next week, so the sooner we can get everyone together, the better. But those final trials in particular were truly exciting. The entire coaching panel was fully absorbed.”
The trials not only showcased the growing pool of talent within Fiji netball but also emphasised the need to build strong pathways beyond the national team.
“There were many promising players, but also significant opportunities for development,” Parsons explained.
“We’re not just selecting the Pearls. We’re also assembling a high-performance squad and a national talent identification squad to nurture talent across all levels.”
She also paid tribute to the dedication of players who travelled great distances to attend the trials.
“A big congratulations to all the girls for the quality of their efforts, especially those who journeyed from afar to put their best foot forward,” Parsons added.
Selections from the trials are set to be announced on Tuesday, with the squad commencing training the following day.
Also in the pipeline for the Fiji Pearls squad and part of the work Parsons is committed to is ensuring a formidable squad is selected for the qualifiers and the International Netball Festival at the Gold Coast in Australia next month.
In an earlier interview, Parsons emphasied how working towards these competitions meant having a firm and committed schedule due to tight windows from where an emphasis on performance stemmed from.
“Our timeline is really tight, so it’s about shifting performance as quickly as possible,” she said.
“We want to be powerful and sstrong in everything we are doing.
“We don’t want to be pushed around the court; we want to be nice and strong.
“These girls are really going to need the support.
“It’s going to be a tough year to get to the World Cup so would love the support.”
Parsons’ work ties in with the broader goal of the restructured Netball Fiji, which aims to see the Fiji Pearls rank highly among the top 10.
