NEW Zealand-based Jacinta Lal has replaced Fiji netball defender Makelesi Mulevoro for the Pacific Series next month.

Mulevoro was dropped from the squad for an undisclosed medical reason.

The former under-21 vice-captain missed the last year’s series because of injury as well.

Team manager Asenaca Waqanivavalagi said Mulevoro was medically unfit to be part of the 12-member team to the series in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the World Netball Championship in Singapore.

“After consultation with the medical practitioners, it was decided she (Mulevoro) cannot be part of the team for the Pacific Series and WNC,” she said.

“She has been trying really hard to recover well but unfortunately this is something (injures) we can’t control.

“We have other defenders as good as her and we also have the experienced defenders in Matila (Waqanidrola) and Mere (Rabuka).” Waqanivavalagi said Lal would travel with the team to PNG and the experienced Bernadette Daurewa would later join the side for the WNC in July. “We approached Bernadette first to replace Makelesi but she is tied with work commitment. She (Bernadette) is travelling for work reasons on the same week of the series,” she said.

“We then asked Jacinta to join the team and she agreed. Bernadette will be part of the team for the WNC in Singapore.”

Waqanivavalagi said the late replacement would not affect the team’s preparation for the upcoming tournaments.

She said the replacements had stints with the rest of the squad during the training drills and they were well versed with their style of play.

The team will march into camp tomorrow before leaving for PNG early on Sunday.

Squad: Matila Waqanidrola, Mere Rabuka, Simone Nalatu, Teimumu Moce, Luse Kotobalavu, Vaiti Waqatabu, Elenoa Vatureba, Seruwaia Vonolagi, Maria Lutua, Afa Rusivakula, Elesi Waqa, Jacinta Lal, Bernadette Daurewa.

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The Information Ministry has hit out at blog sites carrying messages from former 3FIR Commander Ratu Tevita Mara.

Information Permanent Secretary Sharon Smith-Johns called a press conference regarding media coverage given to Mara and his outbursts against the government.

Smith-Johns says local media and those in New Zealand have fuelled rumours about Mara and helped spread false accusations.

She says the blogs are not a credible source of information, run by failed politicians with a motive and by disgruntled journalists who are not even from Fiji.

According to the Ministry, the blog sites stir up rumours and emotions to try and de-stabilise Fiji.

Smith-Johns says her ministry can’t keep refuting rumours picked up by media organisations from the blog sites and they will now no longer respond to any blog reports.

According to the Permanent Secretary, false reports on the internet have led to Australia’s revised travel advisory on Fiji.

Meanwhile the government has also denied blog site reports the Prime Minister is receiving $700,000 as his annual salary.

The Permanent Secretary says the government will no longer go over the rumours to justify the Prime Minister’s pay.

She says those behind the blog sites, making the allegations need to show proof if they have any.

Report by : Edwin Nand

By Steve McMorran, The Associated Press
–
9 hours ago

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The head of Fiji’s Olympic Committee says the South Pacific nation should boycott the Rugby World Cup this year if sanctions imposed by New Zealand prevent it from selecting its best team.

Vidhya Lakhan, president of the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee, told the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation on Tuesday that the International Rugby Board should consider moving Fiji’s matches from New Zealand if sanctions were applied.

New Zealand has imposed travel sanctions on Fiji since the nation’s military under Commodore Frank Bainimarama seized power in a December, 2006 coup. Sanctions prevent members of the Fiji military or their families from visiting New Zealand.

Fiji will name its initial 50-man squad for the World Cup on June 4 and several players with military links are likely to be included.

Lakhan said the New Zealand government had no right to interfere in the selection of the Fiji team.

“If New Zealand does not allow the best Fiji selection to take part in the RWC, then IRB should reschedule Fiji’s matches in another country that will allow the best Fijian selection to take part in the Rugby World Cup,” he said.

“And if IRB is not willing to do that, then Fiji should consider boycotting the RWC. That is our position.”

Lakhan said the IRB should follow football’s governing body FIFA, which moved a World Cup qualifier between New Zealand and Fiji from New Zealand in 2009 when Fiji goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau was denied a visa. Tamanisau had family links to the military.

The IRB has called on New Zealand to relax sanctions against Fiji during the World Cup but Prime Minister John Key has said his government will not.

“At the end of the day, we don’t take our riding instructions from the IRB,” Key said. “Our view is that we want to see democracy restored in Fiji. This is the only thing that we’ve got that holds their feet to the fire.”

Australia has imposed similar sanctions against Fiji. When Bainimarama took power he suspended the Pacific nation’s constitution, dismissed its judiciary, imposed strict media censorship and suspended democratic elections.

Copyright © 2011 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Publish date/time: 30/05/2011 17:34

New Zealand based netball rep Jacinta Lal will become the first Indo Fijian girl to wear the national colors.

Lal will replace Makelesi Mulevoro for the Pacific Series in Papua New Guinea next week.

Mulevoro is injured and will also miss the World Netball Championship in Singapore in July.

Lal will only play for Fiji in the Pacific Series while veteran netball rep, Bernadette Daurewa will travel with the team to the WNC.

The Fiji Netball team will leave on Sunday for PNG.

Story by: Dreu Vukailagi

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