Nalatu to coach Fiji 21 & Under, Rakavono as manager
She retired from playing in 2011 and took on coaching roles in the Netball Queensland state league competitions coaching the Queensland 17 and under and Queensland 19 and under teams between 2017 and 2023.
Sunday 21 January 2024 | 03:20
Netball Fiji yesterday announced that the 21 & Under national side will be coached by Simone Nalatu while Lusiana Nasedra Rakavono is manager.
The Fiji 21 & Under side is competing in the Netball World Youth Cup Oceania Qualifier in the Cook Islands in September and the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibralata next year.
Nalatu hails from Dakuni, Beqa; her father the late Kiniviliame Nalatu was a former Fiji Rugby Union player while her mother Faith Nalatu (nee Valentine) represented Fiji in hockey.
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Nalatu is a former Fiji Pearl who competed at two World Cups in 2007 (Auckland) and 2011 (Singapore).
She is also a former Queensland Firebirds player that played senior netball in Queensland and Australia.
She retired from playing in 2011 and took on coaching roles in the Netball Queensland state league competitions coaching the Queensland 17 and under and Queensland 19 and under teams between 2017 and 2023.
She has also coached at the Australian Netball Championships (and former Australian National League) for both Netball Queensland and more recently the Sunshine Coast Lightning Bolts.
Nalatu is currently the head coach for the Sunshine Coast Thunder which competes in the Hart Sapphires Series in Queensland.
Meanwhile Rakavono is from Naqara, Waima, Naitasiri. She played county level netball in Kent, United Kingdom before migrating back to Fiji in 2014.
Rakavono has both coached and managed club and district teams in the Suva and Nasinu Netball Associations.
She also coached the Digicel Flames in the Digicel Punjas Reset Championship and the Fiji 21U Selection team against Singapore in 2022.
Rakavono managed the 2023 National Academy 17&U squad and the 17&U team in the end-of-year Academy Tournament.
Nalatu is expected to be in by mid-February to take up her role.
Meanwhile all athletes that competed in the Academy tournament will regroup for a fitness test and skills training with Nalatu on a date to be confirmed later.
Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj
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