Naomi Waqanidrola’s influence on the field has been a slow burn since her first trial to represent Fiji in 2010.
Fiji didn’t end up making an appearance at the OFC U-17 Women’s Championship that year, but having joined Rewa as part of her preparation Waqanidrola began her upward trajectory.
At 18 she was named in Fiji’s 2011 Pacific Games squad, but she had to wait another four years before getting her first start against the Cook Islands at the 2015 games in Papua New Guinea.
By 2018, the defender had established herself as an essential cog in Marika Rodu’s national team adding a further 13 appearances to her tally.
Waqanidrola rise hasn’t only been confined to her on-field exploits. She holds a coaching role with the Rewa women’s team, the same team she also plays with, and is also vice-president of the Rewa Football Association.
In her professional life, Waqanidrola is has been volunteering and working with the FASANOC since 2015. She is a Voices of the Athletes (VOA) champion, doing outreach with athletes regarding HIV and NCDs, and represented Fiji at the Youth Leadership programme in Korea.
“Women’s contribution to sports is very vital and they need to be encouraged to take up roles in sports and change the typical mindset of man dominating key roles in any sports in general.”
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