Netball Fiji president Wainikiti Bogidrau clarified yesterday that outgoing Fijian Pearls coach Kate Carpenter wanted to resign.

Carpenter, who took up the coaching role in September, 2014, handed in her resignation two weeks ago because of “personal reasons” and left the country on Christmas Day.

Her sudden resignation has left many confused and surprised but Bogidrau said they had no choice but to accept her resignation.

“For us, her resignation was because of personal reasons and these personal reasons are something I cannot disclose,” Bogidrau said.

“The truth is Kate wanted to resign and she stated her reasons why she wanted to resign and honestly we had to accept her resignation. She opted to go as she already made up her mind so we respected her decision.”

Bogidrau said they had no one in mind to replace Carpenter right now.

“For now we have no one in mind to take up the coaching position but we can assure everyone that proper procedures will be put in place to finding one,” she said.

“We will be advertising locally and abroad and to pick the right person for the job.”

Vugakoto: Bring back Una

Meanwhile, former Fiji rep Vasiti Vugakoto suggested Netball Fiji executives look into bringing back Unaisi Rokoura as coach for the national team.

Vugakoto believes Carpenter’s departure is an opportunity to bring in a local coach.

“I was really surprised when I read about Kate’s resignation because it’s all so sudden,” Vugakoto said.

“But I believe that this may have been a good thing for Netball Fiji with Kate resigning because then someone local who can do the job can take over.

“I personally think that the executives should look into bringing in Unaisi Rokoura from Papua New guinea because I believe she has a Level Three coaching certificate, and is a former rep and coach.

“She knows our girls and would probably do a good job.  We need someone who knows our style of play, the talents that we have in order to get the best out from our girls.”

As the Government is focused on bringing in overseas coaches to uplift the standard of sports in the country, Vugakoto believes it is time to stop focusing on overseas coaches.

“We have brought in overseas coaches before and I have heard them say that there are understudies to overseas coaches,” she said.

“But where are the so-called understudies and why are they not stepping up and coaching when these overseas coaches leave?

“I’ve been hearing about these understudies for years now and yet still we bring in someone new; how will our local coaches improve if they are not given the opportunity to step up and coach our national teams?

“I do not have anything against overseas coaches but we need to also focus on the local talent we have and if they are bringing in expatriates to coach, don’t just pick anyone off the streets, they need to have the right attitude and understanding of our team.”

Vugakoto first represented Fiji as a 16-year-old in 1986 and played her last international at the 2003 Netball World Cup in Jamaica.

Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback: justine.mannan@fijisun.com.fj