Defending Super Grade champions Lomaiviti remains unbeaten after the third round of the Suva Netball Association league competition.

The side proved too strong for Alumni Sparks winning 39-28  last week, thrashed USP, 55 -34  and Grasshoppers, 20 – 26 in the first and second round respectively.

With the eight teams in the Super Grade, they have scored the most goals as they are keen to defend their title.

Lomaiviti Netball Club senior management official Vasiti Vugakoto said winning back-to- back would be a bonus.

“We take every game as a challenge and take them one at a time.  Our target has always been to win every match comfortably, if we win the Super Grade Division 2020 that will be considered as a bonus,”she said.

“All teams prepare to win and competition will be tougher as we move closer to the final stages.”

The Lomaiviti club, which is one of the oldest clubs of Suva, will be celebrating its Golden Jubilee (50th ) this year.

The club started with only a women’s open team and now has nine teams from all categories.

It has produced national reps over the years, the 80s and 90s stars like the Vugakoto sisters (Vasiti, Timaima and Tuipulotu]), Alevina Waqa, Anasimeci Rakavosa, Venina Taka and Hannah Tuikoro.

Some of the millennium reps are Aliti Toribau, Matila Vocea, Lydia Panapasa and Ema Mualuvu.

“Due to the COVID -19 pandemic the club has not made any celebration plans, however the club intends to take their members on tour of the Lomaiviti Group,” she said.

“We will organise netball clinics as our way of community services to the province of Lomaiviti.”

History

Vugakoto added that Lomaiviti had developed through the years of its existence and had been always managed by sporting families.

“We started at the lower grades and played at the Thurston Courts and trained at the Salvation Army Grounds alongside the Lomaiviti rugby team,” she said.

“Lomaiviti broke through to the top grades in the Suva Netball Association competition and never returned to the lower grades.”  The club has always been managed by families voluntarily.

“The Vugakoto family took over the reins from the Tuinasakea family and has been managing the club operations with the help of club’s financial members.

“The club’s first ever men’s team was formed by the Vugakoto brothers and their basketball mates from school and within the Raiwaqa neighbourhood the likes of Sekonaia Kalou, Iowane Naivalurua Jnr, Navitalai, Peni Kinijoji, Sakenasa, Sakiusa Rokodi, Waisea Koroiciqo, Rt. Waisale Suka and a few others,” Vugakoto added.

Development

“The club’s development programme began in 2007 for players as young as 8 years old and registered its first ever U16 grade.

“The players who are currently playing the Super Grade Category were all part of the 2011 development programme and played in the U16 category under the Suva Netball Association umbrella.

“Under the club’s development programme, we ensure that players are grouped together in age group.  We believe that in order to have a strong team, it is important that players remain together until they have completed the development cycle.

Coaching Staff

The club’s head coach is Anasimeci Rakavosa and also the club’s circle defence coach with the assistance of Waisea Koroiciqo.

Vugakoto and her sister Timaima are shooting coaches while Hannah Tuikoro is the club’s mid-court coach (center, wing attack and wind defence).

Vugakoto acknowledges the assistance and support from family and friends in Fiji and abroad.

“The club has been fortunate to have the assistance of Ratu Manu Ravonu from the Fiji Police Force and Koresi Waqa from the Republic of Fiji Military Force leading the club’s off-season fitness training,” she said.

“The club has been operating so far on a voluntary basis with its member’s financial contribution of $20 a season.

“This year 2020 we have received sponsorship from our Lomaiviti family residing in the United States and Australia – Uluiviti, Kauvesi, Varea, Tamani-Cirikiwai, Camaitovu, Venina Taka, Wise, Vueti and Riley.

“Their contribution has provided the teams with uniforms for all categories and we have been very grateful to them, especially during these challenging times,” she added.

Suva Netball Association draws on Saturday at National Netball Centre.

9am: (Roses) Ablaze- Tagimoucia, CBM Stars- Lomaiviti Motoriki, Ablaze Two-GH Kool Netter Two, CBM Pearls-CBM Diamonds; 9:30 (Princess) Lomaiviti Gau Two v Ablaze Red, CBM White -CBM Rising Stars; GH Diamonds Two- Tagimoucia Red, Lomaiviti  Gau One-GH Diamonds;

10 am (Roses) Ablaze Three v CBM Diamonds, GH Kool Netters One- Alaze Two, CBM Ruby’s- Lomaiviti  Moturiki, Lomaiviti Koro-Tagimoucia Two (development grade);

10.30 (Princess) CBM Lion-Lomaiviti Gau One, GH Diamonds Two-Ablaze Yellow, CBM White -Lomaiviti Gau Two, Tagimoucia White-CBM Rising Stars; 11am (Mixed) FNU One-GH Vodre Mix, Ablaze –Vodre Pure, Ablaze Heart -GH Sapphire (Development Grade), Tagimoucia One-Lomaiviti Koro (Development Grade);

11:30 (Princess) Tagimoucia White-Lomaiviti Gau Two, CBM Blossoms-CBM Angel, Ablaze Yellow-Ablaze Red, Tagimoucia Red-CBM Lions;

12pm (Mixed) Rovers-Tagimoucia, USP v Lomaiviti W, FNPF v FNU  Two, Vodre Mix-Vodre Pure;

12.30 (Premier) Ablaze-GH Vodre  X, Lami-Lomaiviti Nairai, Rovers –Heart, RFMF v FNU;

1pm (Major) USP Reefs – Alumni Magics, CBM Sharks-FNU,  Ablaze-Rovers, Vodre Black-USP Wave, 1:30pm (Golden) CBM Daisy’s-Ablaze, Heart Soul –Lagakali, RFMF –Lomaiviti Batiki,FNPF v ABLAZE (Mixed Grade);

2pm (Premier) Heart & Soul -CBM Rebels, Rovers –Waimanu, Cawaci Collin-Kalabu, FNU v GH Vodre X;

2:30pm (Major) TAagimoucia B -USP Reefs, Lomai Koro-Alumni Stars,  Cawaci Chanel- Tagimoucia, Qauia- Ablaze (Premier Grade); 3pm (Premier) CBM Rebels –Rovers, Heart Souls-Lomai Nairai, Lami-Waimnau;

3:30pm (Super) Vodre- Alblze, CBM Gold- Lomaiviti Ovalau, RFMF v Alumni Sparks, Tagmoucia-USP.  Edited by Osea Bola

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