FORMER Fiji Pearls shooter and coach Unaisi Rokoura says the performance of the Baby Pearls at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar is something to be proud of.
She mentioned their ability to topple formidable teams and exhibit compelling performances in their pool matches and recently, their ninth to 12th quarter-final win against the host nation was commendable.
“Right now, we are proud of those young girls,” Rokoura said in an interview yesterday.
“They’re playing against those Caribbean countries who regularly play netball and (have) competitions and for our young Baby Pearls to match up with them and to perform in that dying stage, especially with Malawi.”
Rokoura’s reference to Caribbean countries were for the Pearls’ first two pool opponents, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
The Pearls beat the former 53-40 and the latter 66-34.
The Baby Pearls had played Malawi in their third pool match on Monday and were narrowly defeated 51-52.
Meanwhile, she added their performance at the NWYC, while being commendable, was indicative of the growth prevalent in the sport’s young players.
“We are happy with the performance, which means the future of netball in Fiji is looking good, because our young ones are really stepping up,” she emphasised.
The Baby Pearls also won their quarter-final match for the ninth to 12th place play-offs against Gibraltar 61-31 and she said while their loss to Malawi sprung after a tightly-contested match, what mattered most was regrouping for the next one.
“It’s good. I know the game with Malawi was tight, but sometimes things happen, but it’s how you regroup and come back stronger in the next game.
She wished the Baby Pearls well in their remaining matches, such as their semi-final contest against Samoa, which was played at 5am today.
