The Netball Fiji National Academy conducted its second training program last weekend at the National Netball Centre.
Academy coaches, Iliseva Drasuna and Anasimeci Rakavosa, expressed their confidence in the progress of the Academy players during each session. Rakavosa noted that the players have shown significant improvement in the fundamentals they’ve been working on since the previous camp.
“The girls have really improved on the different aspects of Netball, we just need to monitor them on their program,” said Rakavosa
“Our the training camp is scheduled once or twice a month but for individual program, all our players have their own training program to follow through at home, and we’d like to make sure that they’re following through these program,” said Rakavosa.
Drasuna sees the National Academy program as a vital platform for the national selectors to identify and nurture talent for the future national squad.
“Considering the talent pool we have within the academy program, the future of our Fiji Pearls looks promising. There’s increased competition, and we have players who can step in when senior players retire,” said Drasuna.
Notably, one of the U17 players, Alisi Neisulu, has earned a spot as a non-traveling reserve for the 2023 Pacific Games Fiji Pearls team. This achievement is expected to inspire academy players to work diligently and compete for positions in the national squad.
Fiji Pearls head coach Unaisi Rokoura said that she will be monitoring the academy players very closely once they return from the Pacific Games, Rokoura intends to establish a development team to integrate these talented players into the national squad, which serves as a lead-up to the 2025 World Youth championships.
“Once we return from the Pacific Games, I will be looking at players in the academy where we’ll set up the development team that will rope in these players into the national squad, and this is also the lead up to the 2025 World Youth,” said Rokoura.
