Ana Cagi Moi is honored to be representing her homeland at the Netball World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa.
The 25-year-old hails from Vusaratu, Natewa in the Cakaudrove Province with maternal links to Nabua, Korolau in Cakaudrove.
Ana grew up in Auckland New Zealand and plays for the Collegiate Netball Club in North Harbour. Ana’s passion for netball ignited at an early age, and her dream was to don the iconic Silver Ferns dress. However, when the opportunity arose to trial for the baby Pearls in 2017, she seized it without hesitation, recognizing the chance to represent her homeland on the global stage.
Ana made the cut to represent Fiji Under 21 at the 2017 World Youth Championship. The team made an impressive run reaching the semi-finals and securing fourth place overall.
For Ana, representing her island home at the youth championship was an immensely proud moment, and it instilled a strong sense of patriotism within her.
Reflecting on her journey, the Vusaratu lass explains that there is no greater feeling than returning to her island home and representing her nation in the sport she loves the most.
She emphasised the growing number of Fijian girls playing netball in New Zealand and Australia, knowing that they, too, have the opportunity to come back home and compete for a spot in the national team, she knows that Fijian players overseas will also help build caliber of local competition if they continue to come home and contest their spot for the national selection.
“It is a huge honor to be able to play for my country, hopefully my selection will show the Fijian girls playing netball overseas that they can also come home and contest for a spot to proudly represent their nation.”
“I’m so honored to be able to make the World Cup squad, growing up in New Zealand I’ve always thought about playing for the Silver Ferns and I didn’t think that I’d play for Fiji, it’s a different feeling when you get to represent your country and that’s just something I’m thankful for.”
“Being part of the Pearls has taught me more about my culture here at home, I got to immerse myself with my tradition and connect more with my identity and I realised how blessed I am to be a Fijian.”
