Eighteen-year-old Alisi Neisulu is the youngest player in the Fiji Pearls team that will compete at the 2025 PacificAus Netball Series in Brisbane later this month.
The year thirteen student of Adi Cakobau School has been part of the Fiji Pearls extended squad from 2022 at just fifteen years of age. Three years later Neisulu finally made her breakthrough after being announced in the final team to compete at the Series in Brisbane.
Neisulu hails from Yavusania, Nadi, and shares maternal links to Natauloa, Nairai in Lomaiviti. The eighteen-year-old has been honing up her game in the past three years, Neisulu came through the Netball Fiji Academy program where she caught the attention of coaching staff at an early age. The Yavusania lass was determined and continues to put in the work.
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity, it’s been three long hard years, I’ve been in the extended squad since 2022 when I was in year 11.”
“I was part of the inaugural academy program in 2022, I was part of the 21&U team in 2023 and was also in the Fiji Pearls extended squad, this year I’m part of the 23&U squad that’s preparing for the Youth World Cup, and now I’m part of the final team to the PacificAus Netball Series and I’m so thankful.”
“Being the youngest player in the squad for the past three years has been a challenge, for me to be able to cope mentally and physically is something really big. I’m grateful to God for giving me strength these past three years.”
“I know that all the hard work has paid off, it’s not easy, being able to work hard in the past three years has made me grab this opportunity with both hands and be grateful for all the work I’ve done.”
Neisulu is one of the five debutants who will be taking the court at the Nissan Arena in Brisbane for the 2025 PacificAus Netball Series that will commence on 17th February.
The team will depart for Brisbane on 14/02/2025.