Netball Fiji has expressed its appreciation for the successful revival of the Western Rally Netball tournament in the Sugar City.
The tournament returned after a lapse of 19 years with the hard work of the Lautoka Netball Association and the 18 districts who brought together 44 teams from as far as Navosa and Vatukaloko in Ra to battle it out at the Lautoka Primary School grounds.
Netball Fiji president RubyAnn Sorovaki says the return of this tournament sets a classic example of sustaining the sport at the grassroots level.
“This is what we’re here for and exactly what we’re supposed to be doing,” Sorovaki said.
“Being here today allows me to reach out to district presidents that are here and so I’m having conversations with all of them.
“The national champs coming up, but it’s just a one-off competition and we need to sustain the sport throughout the whole year, and this is why such tournaments are vital.”
Sorovaki says the staging of this tournament also sets an example of the amount of work Netball Fiji has to do on the ground.
She says that they have done some but there’s still so much left and it is humbling to get the views of management and how they work together to get competitions in the West up and running.
“Just looking at this atmosphere is just a reminder of why we need to sustain the sport. I actually think they’ve been very strategic because some of the districts have got the under-19 and other grades.
“We just can’t stop thanking the Western president, Dorothy Prasad who has been driving this concept.”
