- By Henry Lee, AUT Journalism Student
Young netball star and former Howick College student Lili Tokaduadua is making the most of her first season as a professional netball player, amassing nine appearances so far this season for the Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership.
She’s also part of the New Zealand netball team that will be looking ahead to the U21 World Cup in Gibraltar next year.
Tokaduadua, 19, moved from Fiji to New Zealand in 2020, when she was 15.
Netball has always been a passion for her but moving to a different country comes with its challenges.
“I played netball in Suva through primary school, on grass courts where we would mark the grass in black paint which was so much fun,” Tokaduadua says.
“In my first year of high school, year 9 at Suva Grammar School in Fiji, we won our grade in the Fiji secondary school comp. Then the year after, I flew over to New Zealand”.
Tokaduadua moved to Auckland in 2020, on a netball scholarship to Howick College.
Howick College’s director of sport Adelita Sotutu kindly offered to have Tokaduadua live at their family home.
“I was lucky to live under their roof and develop my netball skills and myself while living in New Zealand.
“Adelita’s done massive things for me. The Sotutu family is very sport-oriented, competitive, and very generous”.
The Sotutu family are no strangers to professional sport in New Zealand.
Waisake Sotutu played rugby for Fiji and Auckland between 1991 and 1997.
Their son, Hoskins, has played for the Blues since 2019 and has 14 All-Blacks test caps.
Their daughter Teuila is also a gifted netball player, making the U21 New Zealand netball squad in 2020.
Adelita has now coached Tokaduadua throughout her netball career in New Zealand, all the way from year 10 to year 13 at Howick College, and at Shelly Park Netball Club.
“So I don’t get tired of seeing her face,” Tokaduadua laughs.
“Adelita has taught me not only on-court netball stuff but off-court as well.
“Life lessons like being strong, competitive, kind to others and respectful.
“She constantly challenges me at training to be better and perform on the netball court.”
Tokaduadua looks back at her time at Howick College fondly. She says the culture settled her into a new country and specific playing style.
“I’m very grateful for the learnings I’ve taken and the challenges as well. I’ve met lots of really good friends who I still hang out with and speak with every day.”
Tokaduadua highlights that the transition from high school sports to a professional environment has taken some time to get used to.
“The intense training is challenging, especially with the expectations required from us.
“There’s fitness testing every three weeks where we do a yo-yo test and that’s not my favourite but it’s important to show the coaches where you’re at.”
Having already made eight appearances for the Northern Stars in her first season as a professional netball player, it’s clear to see that the sky’s the limit.
Despite being far from home back in Fiji, her passion for netball and determination to be the best person on and off the court makes Tokaduadua one to keep an eye on.
