Naquto ready to step up for netball World Cup

SOUTH Mildura’s on-court star Morna Naquto will be taking her talents to the world stage this year when she represents Fiji in the Netball World Cup in South Africa.

At only 18, Naquto has proved herself a talented force in the local netball scene, most recently playing for the SFNL Allstar team.

But the young netballer will now take on a new challenge in a new country after being selected to play for the Fiji national netball team, the Fiji Pearls.

Naquto said it would be an amazing opportunity to go from playing in Mildura to playing against some of the world’s best netballers.

“Coming from a small country, small town, and then to go to Fiji (for trials), for me it is probably the biggest achievement,” she said.

“I’m pretty nervous – it is a big thing for me to do.”

Naquto said it was her uncle who informed her that trials were about to start in Fiji and encouraged her to apply.

“We put in an application.

“I didn’t think I’d get picked but it was amazing to hear that I got picked,” she said.

“There were like 40 or something girls (at the training camps) at the start.”

Naquto said her family had shed some “joyful tears” on hearing that she had made the team.

The defence player will head to the Gold Coast next week for the PacificAus Sport Netball Series, before a competition in Wellington, New Zealand, next month.

The Netball World Cup will be held in July in South Africa.

Naquto will miss some of this year’s SFNL season but will play where possible outside of her trainings and competitions.

She said she was looking forward to gaining valuable experience from the talented players she would be playing with and against.

“It is really good to learn and gain experience,” she said.

“Especially playing with older girls as well.

“It is really good to get that chance.”