Pearls Delight For UK Netters
United Kingdom-based Alisi Nawele is honoured to be part of the Fijian Pearls 25- member squad for the Netball World Cup which will be held in Liverpool England on July 12-21.
The Nakawakawa, Wainunu, Bua native, who is attached to the Parachute Engineer Regiment in the British Army currently plays for Celtic Dragons in the Vitality Netball Superleague in England.
The midcourt player has been serving the British Army for the last 15 years and the second eldest in a family of five children.
Speaking to SUNsports from Wales yesterday, Nawele says she is delighted to be part of the squad.
“I feel honoured and blessed to be selected and being part of the 25 squad this year. I went for the trials when it was advertised online and got selected,” she said.
“I was also selected in 2017 and represented Fiji in the Europe Tour of Wales.”
The former Lelean Memorial School student is working on improving her fitness level and strength work.
“Working hard on strength and conditioning, court work on skills and drills and more importantly to be injury free,” she said.
Nawele and Adi Bolakoro, who is in the Engineer Regiment of the British Army and also plays for Celtic Dragons, were both drafted in the 25 member squad.
BRITISH ARMY
British Army Sports tweeted: “Huge Congratulations to both Alisi Nawele 23 Parachute Engineer Regiment and Adi Bolakoro 22 Engineer Regiment both playing for Celtic Dragons and named in the 2019 Fiji squad. Two inspirational ambassadors for the Army and their country #ArmyNetball #Fiji #ProudSappers.”
WILSON
The Fijian Pearls head coach Vicki Wilson said: “The two players play at the highest level of competition, the Superleague in England so they are in a high performance environment, they are working very hard.
“So we are working on communication with their coach so we can keep an eye on them on their vision of their games and of their training.”
Squad members Maria Lutua Rusivakula, Episake Kahatoka and former national rep Afa Rusivakula also played for the Celtic Dragons.
The Dragons franchise is based in Wales and has been part of the Vitality Netball Superleague since its inception.
The Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) is the elite netball competition in the United Kingdom and features 10 teams from across England, Wales and Scotland.
The on court vision for the franchise is to produce highly skilled, conditioned, thinking athletes that can consistently compete at a high level, striving for international honours.
Squad: 1. Taraima Mitchell 2. Matila Vocea 3. Laisani Waqa 4. Maliana Rusivakula 5.Unaisi Rauluni 6.Lydia Panapasa 7.Alisi Nawele(UK), 8. Maria Rusivakula 9.Caitlyn Fisher ( Australia) 10.Nina Cirikisuva 11.Asilika Sevutia 12.Alisi Galo 13. Verenaisi Sawana 14.Mereani Tuwai 15. Jacinta Lal(New Zealand) 16.Tahisha Hunt (Australia) 17.Ana Cagi Moi (New Zealand) 18. Elenoa Gukirewa 19.Matila Waqanidrola 20.Episake Kahatoka 21.Ema Mualevu 22. Merelita Waqanidrola 23. Adi Bolakoro(UK) 24. Grace Korovata(Australia)
-Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
eedback: anasilinir@fijisun.com.fj
