Sparrows set goal for 2024 Port Moresby netball season

Reigning Port Moresby Netball Association Champion’s Sparrows are planning for the future.

Head coach Julianne Leka told NBC Online that their ultimate goal is to ensure young and aspiring netball athletes reach their full potential.

“Focus for this year, is building the next crop of young players to enter the premier league in 2024/2025,” Leka said.

Sparrows have been a dominating club in the premier netball competition, winning back-to-back grand finals in 2022 and 2023 seasons.

And maintaining dominance on the court is high on the agenda for the head coach, “the club’s ultimate aim is to improve overall club performance in the number of premierships across the junior and senior divisions and of course the premier division.

“Furthermore, we plan to build a pool of high performing athletes and put them through a development pathway program over the next 3 years from our u13 – u21 divisions.”

“We have identified promising high performers in the junior divisions and we are slowly bleeding girls into senior teams including the premier team this year,” Leka said.

The Credit Corp Sparrows will face Mystics in the premier division match on Saturday at the Rita Flynn Netball Outdoor Courts.

“They are a strong team with some naturally talented young players and so it should be a good game for both teams,” Leka said

“We will be missing a few regular players for this game, so an opportunity for the junior players to step up if given the opportunity to take the court.”