New Era For Netball Fiji
“I want to expand our partnership matrix, while retaining our good relationship with our financial partners we would also want to work with other organisations including the civil society organisations (CSOs” - Vivian Koster, Netball Fiji CEO
“Wainikiti and her team had struggled to pave way to where NF is in now. Putting this house in order has not been an easy journey. “NF now has annual audits, policies are now in place. NF now has access to the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports programme. “This has assisted NF to pay for staff to run netball and its programmes.”
Anew era has begun for Netball Fiji, as Vivian Koster took up her role as the first chief executive officer yesterday. This is not a new turf for her. “This new structure it is putting the netball foundation bit right,” Koster said.
Originally from Savusavu Koster was into hockey and swimming in her young days.
About two decades ago she joined the Grasshoppers netball club in the newly formed Nasinu Netball Association.
“I followed Alumita and John Sacs with their Grasshoppers club to netball, and not too long I was into it,” she said.
Koster’s name was penciled into the netball books after she was spotted by national secretary late Alini Rabitu-Sovu who assigned her to be Nasinu manager at the district level.
She took the challenge because she believes that netball has great opportunity to be the most inclusive sport in Fiji.
Koster has been an independent consultant for NF for three years and over two decades as a netball administrator.
The former University of the South Pacific graduate taught at secondary school level before working as an independent consultant.
She is also into youth empowerment programmes.
Koster is the middle sister in a family of three daughters. Her dad worked for the Fiji Sugar Corporation so she moved schools whenever her father had to be transferred.
She had attended Labasa Primary then moved to Suva to attend Yat Sen Secondary before enrolling into USP for her degree.
Although she is single her house is always full with her two sisters’ children whom she treats as her own.
“My first priority is to update our policy audit; it is something NF has not had.
“I want to expand our partnership matrix, while retaining our good relationship with our financial partners we would also want to work with other organisations including the civil society organisations (CSOs).
Koster acknowledges the work of past NF president Wainikiti Bogidrau.
“Wainikiti and her team had struggled to pave way to where NF is in now. Putting this house in order has not been an easy task.
“NF now has annual audits, policies are now in place. NF now has access to the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports programme.
“This has assisted NF to pay for staff to run netball and its programmes.
“The women on the reigns of leadership are a dynamic set led by president RubyAnn Sorovaki.”
On getting netball on track Koster is enthusiastic working with the group of professional women with the sport at heart.
“Acknowledging the members of Netball Fiji executive committee I am confident that netball will up its standard and create more competitive events.