Netball More Than A Passion For Vugakoto
Gone are the days when everything you do in sports was done through passion. Youngest netball rep at 16 for the 1987 netball World Cup in Scotland Vasiti Vugakoto shares her views as she reminisces the good old netball days.
The Suva Grammar School alumnae is the eldest in a family of seven siblings of which her two younger sisters Timaima Vulimailaucala and Tuipolotu McLennan are also ex-national netball reps – the trio represented Fiji at the 1995 South Pacific Games where they won gold in Tahiti.
Her younger brothers Samisoni and the late John were basketball nationals.
The other two sisters are Georgina Batisaresare and Akisi.
Originally from Naigani, Batiki in Lomaiviti with maternal links to Tubou, Labeka, Lau, Vugakoto also represented Fiji in volleyball and basketball.
Over a span of 16 years (1987 to 2003) she represented Fiji in netball to two World Cups, two World Championships, four South Pacific Games and one mini SPG.
Netball has enabled her visit other countries. She also represented Fiji in volleyball and basketball.
“There is a huge difference in sports representation now, gone are the days when everything was done through passion and this included those around us, our family, circle of friends and community who support us,” Vugakoto said.
“My mentor and dad would pump in money into netball from club level right up to national level and he would be there rain, hail or storm to watch us play and see that everything is okay,” she said.
“I remember the days where we’d sell Coke at the stadium as arranged by Vicki Tuxson, Elizabeth
Freeman and Arieta Rokowaqa with profit made from the sales given to Fiji Netball Association to fund our preparations and travel.
“This was done for the love of the sport. We were in the media but the limelight did not affect our commitment to the sport.
“Netball has played a role in my character, career, and role as a sports administrator, coach, wife and mother.
“Things have changed along with time.
“Then if the coach requires us to be at the courts at 5pm we’d be there well before 4.45pm. Yet, now when we tell players to be in at 5pm
they’d casually stroll in 15 minutes later like it is no big deal.
“Now players are given allowance and some paid after their games. The sports facilities are world standard. Back in our days players would run (road) or take short cuts to get to the venue and do the same after training.
“Then your spare 5 cents can help in a fellow team mate’s bus fare home. “
Vugakoto’s record include 1987 netball World Cup in Scotland where Fiji finished eighth, 1991 in Australia with Fiji finishing 11th. In the 1999 World championships Fiji lost to New Zealand in the quarterfinals in NZ to finish 6th and in 2003 (Jamaica) Fiji finished eighth.
She captained the national side in the 1989 Youth Netball championship in Australia.
Her participation at the SPG started in 1991 (Papua New Guinea) where Fiji won silver, 1995 (Tahiti) won gold, 1999 (Guam) won gold and in 2002 (Fiji) won gold. In the 1997 Mini Games (American Samoa) won bronze.
“We used to play at Thurston courts and change under the big trees, there was only one tap for everyone including the spectators, juice sellers, bean cart owners and those who visited the museum and the Botanical garden.”
With her late mother Tuipolotu Taoba Vugakoto a teacher and dad working at the bank, education was equally priority as sports at their Raiwaqa home.
Her 16 years national netball rep started when she was Form five in 1987 at SGS, attended the University of the South Pacific and graduated with her Bachelor of Arts.
She married the late Peceli Vocea from Drekeniwai, Cakaudrove, had her three children Savenaca (represented Belgium in rugby 7’s and 15’s and Fijian touch rugby), Perina (2018 USP gold medallist) and
Matila (national netball rep now on contract in Brisbane) before retiring from national level in 2003.
Then she had Tevita (who is now attending SGS) before the late Vocea was seconded to the World Bank in Washington DC where she pursued her Masters in Business Administration.
Their number five William (home schooling here) was born there. The family then moved to Brussels in 2009 when the late Vocea was Fiji’s ambassador to the European Union and Belgium until 2014.
On the family’s return to Fiji, Vugakoto is back on the netball courts as a veteran player and steering the Suva based champion Lomaiviti club.
“I love volleyball because of the agility and the space with the six players be setters, spikers or receivers can freely move; unlike netball you have your designated space and this limits your movement.
“I followed my late mum wherever she went to play; she introduced me to volleyball because she was into the sport then netball.
“She was one of the first set of local netball umpires and that was how we stuck with the sport.”
Vugakoto is now Relationship Manager Institutional Banking with a Suva commercial bank.
“Our club, Lomaiviti is as old as Fiji’s 1970 independence, this event is significant to us as it was my late grandfather, Methodist church chaplain of the then Royal Fiji Military Forces Samisoni Vugakoto who prayed over the new flag.
To commemorate Fiji’s 50 years of independence (last year) the picture of his blessing the new flag now features in the Fijian $50 note.
The Vugakoto’s took over Lomaiviti club from Sale Tuinasakea in 1999; this year the club celebrates its 51st anniversary.
“Lomaiviti uniform then was the green netball dress with black box pleats, with top Suva teams dominating the national line up with players like Tuxson, Freeman, Rokowaqa, the late Asenaca Rokoura, Paulini Tora (now Mawi) Venina Taka, Taraima Rara (now Mitchell), Bernie Ramafono and Seforosa Munivai.”
“Netball is my veins – as much as I would like to coach at national level I just do not have the time to be committed fulltime.
“I now coach at grassroot level starting with six-year-olds.”