FIJI Netball Association is mum over former national coach Melissa Walker’s appointment as the first Wales fulltime coach.

President Milika Munivai said the association “have no comments” on her new job.

Walker and FNA had been at loggerheads for some time during which she was sacked in May this year but brought back after an intervention from the Government.

A month after being reinstated, the national netball governing body stopped Walker from travelling to the Pacific Mini Games in Cook Islands due to her being pregnant.

Last month, the former Maori coach received another termination letter from Netball Fiji.

In reply, Walker filed a case against FNA over the non-payment of her salary and the breach of contract.

She was also subjected to a seven-day ultimatum to leave the country from the Immigration Department.

However, the department, after being informed about Walker’s case against FNA, gave her a temporary resident’s permit.

During the first hearing of the case on Tuesday, the FNA lawyer asked for more time. The matter will again be heard on December 18.
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You can take a person out of a country, but you can’t take a country out of a person.

This is evident in the Air Pacific Under-21 netball team that is taking part at the World Youth Netball Championships in the Cook Islands.

Speaking to Fijivillage sports, coach Melissa Walker said they are surprised with the coverage the team is getting, and in just the few days they’ve been there, people have noticed the Fijian flair in the girls.

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The Air Pacific Under-21 team beat Samoa by 57-43 in their first game yesterday and their next game is against Botswana at 5:15pm this afternoon.

Fiji is currently in second place on 4 points behind pool leaders Australia.
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Netball South Africa (NSA) will host their first tri-nations tournament in eight years when they entertain Fiji and Botswana at the Pretoria University from Wednesday.

South Africa are the highest ranked of the three nations at seventh, with Fiji one below and Botswana at 18th, but this will be a good test for the local players as they need to recapture a winning attitude.

In the past South Africa played against the best in the world and have since dropped in rankings. They now need to regain their status of being among the elite.

“If we are to be invited to the Commonwealth Games next year, we must be in the top six teams in the world,” said head coach, Carin Strauss yesterday.

This is not because there are only six teams – there are 12 nations taking part in the Commonwealth Games – but Sascoc will only send potential medal winners.

There will also be a new format of the game much along the lines of basketball with goals getting a points system rating.

A goal inside the goal circle is one-point while a goal scored outside will have a two-point tag attached to it.

Fiji have a new fulltime coach in Melissa Walker, who is attack-minded, but Botswana must not be underestimated, according to Strauss as they have improved dramatically and will still be a threat.

“Botswana have height and speed in the centre court.

“We have a mixture of youth and experience in our players,” said Strauss.

Maryke Holtzhausen has pulled out of the team due to injury.
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