Fiji Pearls veteran Kalesi Tawake left for Australia on Thursday with Fiji under-21 players Yvonne Nalewbau and Susana Rasaubale where they will join the South Coast Blaze Netball Club as part of the PacificAus Sports Immersion program for the NSW Premier League regular season.
During their tenure, these players will be fully immersed in the club’s high-performance environment, benefitting from player development programs.
Supported by the Australian Government (DFAT) and Netball Australia, the PacificAus Sports Netball program facilitates opportunities, aiming to provide upcoming Pacific athletes with access to high-performance coaching and training.
Based in Wollongong, New South Wales, the Blaze netball team serves as the host for this immersive experience.
The trio will spend three weeks with the team.
Netball Fiji chief executive officer Vivan Koster emphasized the significance of the program in elevating local athletes to higher performance standards.
“The immersion program is an amazing opportunity for our players to be in a different training environment and to learn from others,” Koster stated.
Koster highlighted the positive outcomes from previous participants, noting how they returned with enhanced skills and knowledge.
She expressed her satisfaction with the involvement of two under-21 squad members, recognising the invaluable experience as they vie for a spot in the national U21 team for the upcoming Netball World Youth Cup next year.
They return to Fiji on March 27.
