It appears there are differences between the Suva Primary Schools Netball Association and the Fiji Sports Council. This came to the fore recently during the opening of the primary schools’ competition. Today we revisit the chain of events linked to this issue. The story was written by sports reporter Vuniwaqa Bola-Bari.
The Suva Primary School Netball Association had on March 12 conducted the opening of their schools’ competition at Furnival Park in Toorak.
This, games co-ordinator, Jona Saturu, said it seemed like taking the sport back rather than moving forward “because of the unavailability of the courts at Netball Centre and LICI Courts and the high charges that the Sports Council charged a sporting body comprising of players whose ages ranged from 9- 14”.
This was published on March 19 and 20 in Times Sports along with responses from Fiji Sports Council marketing manager and acting operations manager Eleina MacDonald, who said in that interview, the venue was reserved for SPSNA but without being informed of the move to Furnival Park, it led to them losing out on revenue.
“Suva Primary Schools netball organisers apparent claims to why they ‘couldn’t’ host their event with us is unwarranted as no one came in to use the facility despite the facility being booked by Suva Primary Schools,” MacDonald said that day.
“Had the organisers engaged in dialogue with the FSC operations team upon their booking, given our policy, we may have recommended options based on our current policies. In fact, FSC did its due diligence by taking in a requested booking, issuing the client with the relevant standard hire cost of $19 per hour however; the same courtesy was not forthcoming from the organisers.”
MacDonald said at the time, “Keep in mind, Suva Netball Primary Schools organisers conduct their competition upon registration fees from participating teams and general public admission — the admission each competition a day can amount to no less than $1000 — funds that could easily be used to pay for the very affordable rates provided by the council”.
She said the council was also concerned with the claims made by SPSNA because the issue of cost had never been an issue in previous years with this committee.
Later on she said: “We welcome our customers to work with us to help them make their events a success and continue to be in the years to come. FSC stands by earlier comments that nothing will be achieved by running to the media after the fact. Come and see your friendly FSC team to book your venue and finalise your preferred arrangements today.”
On Wednesday, March 23, Times Sports published Saturu’s response responding to council’s action made earlier by MacDonald.
Hoping to set the record straight, Saturu said the association’s treasurer had spoken to a sports council officer, Roneel, who informed them that the Suva Volleyball Association had booked the courts.
“He (Roneel) even asked her (treasurer) to come to the office to check the bookings at 3pm which she did.”
He said, with Roneel not at the office at the scheduled time, they assumed that they needed to find another venue as the courts were already booked.
“We took it from there that the court was booked by Suva Volleyball and that was the main purpose of taking the games to Furnival Park.”
When they received information that the courts were free on the week of their opening tournament, it was rather too late as parents, teachers and children were already informed of the venue of the opening tournament.
He said they had also been trying to book well in advance since last year but all had been to no avail.
Saturu clarified revenue from registration fees and gate-takings were not for court fees alone as they also had to pay their umpires and technical officials.
“We also have payments to make for our 10-12 umpires who are paid $35 and 4-5 scorers who are paid $10 each. In addition to that we have to save money as well to prepare our girls for the national championship.
“Primary schools netball do not get sponsors like other bigger and parent sporting bodies.”
