True Daughter’ Of Netball Fiji Dies
Alini Sovu, a former national netball rep and one of Fiji’s longest serving sports administrators, died at her home on Wednesday.
Sovu was a former Netball Fiji secretary, technical official and also a Team Fiji official at regional and international meets.
Netball Fiji president Wainikiti Bogidrau remembered her as a dedicated worker and a true servant of the sport in Fiji.
“We have lost a true daughter of Fiji netball – a keen and dedicated sports woman,” Bogidaru said.
“We are deeply saddened at the loss of Alini Rabitu Sovu, who was also a dedicated and committed technical official and administrator.”
Sovu served in various administration capacities for Netball Fiji, including as secretary for many years under Alice Tabete and later Bogidrau.
“Alini was still secretary of the sport when she fell ill in Wallis and Futuna in 2013,” Bogidrau said.
“Her departure from netball due to her condition meant we had to build capacity and train a new crop of technical officials, most of whom were under her wing.
“She was also instrumental in training bench officials and umpires and was the ‘go-to” person for netball and we will miss her.
“We join her family in mourning a loss of a dearly loved family member and offer our condolences to them especially her daughter Ana; may Alini rest in peace and love.”
FASANOC
Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Commitee (FASANOC) Chief Executive Officer Lorraine Mar echoed the same sentiments.
“FASANOC is deeply saddened by the passing of Sports Administrator, Alini Sovu who we acknowledge for a life time of service to Netball, to FASANOC and to sports in general. We are aware that Alini was a player on a Fiji Netball Team which toured New Zealand in 1983,” Mar said.
She served Fiji Netball with distinction as the secretary for many years as she pursued a career in sports administration, Alini brought her organisational skills to FASANOC and was employed in the lead up to the Suva 2003 South Pacific Games as a Team Fiji Administration Officer, before joining the Kiribati High Commission.
She volunteered her time during the 2003 South Pacific Games as the Competition Manager for Netball. Alini continued to volunteer her time to sport and in 2011 served as a General Manager on Team Fiji to the Noumea South Pacific Games and in 2013 she was the Chef de Mission of Team Fiji to the South Pacific Mini Games held in Wallis and Futuna. Sadly, it was in Wallis and Futuna that she suffered a stroke and was brought back to Fiji and on to New Zealand.
“Alini Sovu will be remembered for her dedication and loyalty to not only Netball but to the sporting family of FASANOC. We have lost a true friend and passionate follower of sport,” Mar said.
Sovu will be laid to rest in Lautoka next Wednesday.
Edited by Sheldon Chanel
Feedback: anasilinir@fijisun.com.fj
