Netball: Fiji-bound Rabuka cherishes Sting win

INVERCARGILL - Southern Sting's Bulou Rabuka left for Fiji yesterday to the uncertainty of her beloved homeland.

But while turmoil surrounds her native country, Rabuka at least boarded the plane happy that her adopted netball team had secured the Coca-Cola Cup.

Rabuka is the daughter of 1987 military coup leader and former Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.

She said it had been difficult to concentrate on the final because of the present coup.

"It was hard trying to focus, especially when it [the coup] dragged on for two weeks and is still going on now."

Political unrest in Fiji was not new to her but being away from home and not knowing what was happening there was a worry.

She had mixed emotions over her return.

"It's just not knowing where we stand for the next year or so - it's a bit of a worry. I'm excited about going home, but sad because I've made a lot of friends."

Rabuka described the Sting's 43-40 victory as "awesome."

"The game was nerve-racking but I was confident we were going to win.

"It has just been great to be part of the team - we get on well together off the field and on the field and that's why we're unbeaten this season."

Netball in Fiji certainly did not have the same hype.

"Nothing close to it. To walk out into the stadium ... the crowd got you right there and that was the driving force behind our team."

Rabuka is deciding whether she will play for the Pasifika team against the Silver Ferns next month after the original tour by the Fijian team was cancelled.

- NZPA