Kelera Nawai is looking forward to run onto the court when the Fiji Pearls takes on Tonga Tala in their World Cup opener on the 28th July 7pmFT.
Having been through the experience once before, this would be Kelera’s second World Cup, and the 26-year-old player was determined to make it a memorable one, especially with the support of her younger sisters on the team.
Kelera hails from Vatutu in the province of Nadi and share maternal links to Nasavu in Bua. Nawai is one of the experience players in the squad, playing for the Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership competition in New Zealand. The 26 year old began her netball journey with the Seniteteva Netball Club in Nadi, Nawai later moved to New Zealand where she played in the ANZ Premiership.
Kelera is banking on her younger sisters to bring their A-game when they take the court at the World Cup.
“Having my younger sisters on the team adds an extra layer of excitement and motivation for all of us,” Kelera shared.
“They are talented players, and I know they will step up when we face our opponents.”
Kelera emphasised on the importance of building up towards the world cup with the young players getting their game calibre up another level.
For Kelera, the road to the World Cup was paved with hard work and dedication, not just from her but from the entire team. She stressed the significance of the team coming together, building camaraderie, and continuously playing and training as a unit.
“Leading up to the World Cup, our focus was on fostering teamwork and unity,” Kelera explained.
“It was essential for us to be in sync, both on and off the court, our time together in camp allowed us to gel as a team and understand each other’s playing styles.”
Kelera’s confidence in the team’s abilities was evident as she spoke about their fitness levels being at their peak and their team morale being high. Their collective strength as a unit gave them the assurance that they would face the challenge with determination.
