The Fijian Pearls netball team received $162,600 from the Fiji National Sports Commission yesterday.

This is to fund the team’s preparation for the Netball World Cup in Sydney next month.

Commission’s chairman Peter Mazey said they were proud to support the team.

“The Commision is very proud of what Netball Fiji has achieved,” Mazey said.

“We want to congratulate you on winning gold during the Pacific Games in Port Moresby. It was a very proud moment.

“It was great to watch the game against New Zealand last week.”

Team captain Mere Neiliko acknowledges the assistance.

“We want to thank the Commission for their support as it will boost our preparation for the NWC,” she said.

Head Coach Kate Carpenter said there were a lot of lessons learned following their one-off test against the Silver Ferns last week.

“We won gold in Port Moresby but last week was disappointing performance against the Silver Ferns,” Carpenter said.

“But there were a lot of things that we learned from that match as we move on.

“We are regrouping well and looking forward to our first match against Wales.”

The Fijians are grouped with Wales, Zambia and Uganda in Pool D.

NWC2015 will be Fiji’s eighth World Cup appearance, after their first appearance at netball’s pinnacle tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1975, where they finished eighth.  Their following World Cup appearances were in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1987, finishing eighth again, and in Sydney in 1991, where the Pearls recorded their lowest ranking to date, finishing 11th.

In New Zealand in 1999 (finishing sixth, their highest finish to date), Kingston, Jamaica, in 2003 (finishing eighth), Auckland again in 2007 (finishing ninth), and  Singapore in 2011 (finishing 10th).

The team departs for Sydney next Monday. The tournament is set for August 7-16.

Feedback: anasilini.ratuva@fijisun.com.fj