Pacific Sporting Partnership Fiji co-ordinator Unaisi Rok­oura said they aim to get more teachers to be involved in the running of netball in the country..

She made the comment during the Digicel/ Punjas National Netball Championship at the Lautoka Mul­tipurpose Court yesterday.

“We are focused on up-skilling coaching programmes for teachers in order to properly developed pri­mary and secondary schools stu­dents,” Rokoura said.

She would be conducting a two-day coaching clinic programme for teachers in the Western division as part of their drive in getting more certified netball coaches in schools.

“They will be participating in the two- day Oceania Foundation Coach, where we teach teachers on the basics and how to coach netball in its simplest form. After the two days the teachers will get certifi­cates.”

The programme is sponsored by the New Zealand’s Ministry of For­eign Affairs in conjunction with Netball New Zealand.

She said they started the pro­gramme last year and already cer­tified 140 teachers.

“What this means for us is we want to increase participation in netball for young girls all around Fiji, If we developed teachers to be quality netball coaches then that will basically increase interest thus increase participation,” she said.

Edited by Osea Bola