A total of 100 players were selected from the secondary school netball finals last weekend for the under 17 and 19’s extended national academy squad.
Netball Fiji chief executive Vivian Koster said the Fiji Secondary Schools Netball Association will field two teams to the Digicel Punjas National Championship to contest the 19 and Under grade and the premier division.
The extended academy squad will go through another selection process after the National Academy camp next week, and a final squad will be selected for the 17 and Under and the 19 and Under.
The National Academy camp will take place from Monday to Saturday next week, with the 17 and Under camp from Monday to Wednesday, while the 19 and Under camp will take place from Thursday to Saturday.
The academy players will also have the chance to be part of the Fiji Pearls preparation program for the 2023 Pacific games in the Solomon Islands if they make the selection at the National Championship or the Academy Camp.
Koster explained the aim for the Academy players is to go through development pathways in preparation for the world youth qualifiers next year.
“We’re having Pacific Games selection too, so it’s quite possible that some of the academy players might make the Pacific Games squad,” Koster said in a statement.
“I think it’s important for all players to know that selectors won’t only be for the academy but there will also be selection for Fiji Pearls out there at the Digicel Punjas National Championship, and during the academy camp next week.”
“The selectors at the National Championship will be looking at players for the final squad for the National Academy, and looking at the Fiji Pearls squad for the Pacific Games.”
