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Vilimaina Davu

Summary

Vilimaina Davu (born 15 January 1977) is a former netball international who represented both Fiji and New Zealand. She was a prominent member of the New Zealand teams that were silver medallists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games and gold medallists at the 2003 World Netball Championships and the 2006 Commonwealth Games. However, she began and ended her international career with Fiji, representing them at the 1999 and 2007 World Netball Championships. During the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup era, she played for Canterbury Flames and Northern Force. During the early ANZ Championship era, she played for Northern Mystics. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998.

Vilimaina Davu
18 June 2004: Vilimaina Davu (left) playing for Canterbury Flames against Southern Sting in the 2004 National Bank Cup final at Stadium Southland. Herself and Flames team mate Peta Stephens challenge Sting's Natalie Avellino.
Personal information
Born (1977-01-15) 15 January 1977 (age 47)
Nadi, Fiji
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Netball career
Playing position(s): GK
Years Club team(s) Apps
1994–1997 Nadroga
2000–2006 Canterbury NPC
2000–2006 Canterbury Flames
2007 Northern Force
2008–2009 Northern Mystics
Years National team(s) Caps
1993–1999 Fiji 55
2000 Team Pasifika 2
2000 World 7
2000–2006 New Zealand 60
2007 Fiji
Coaching career
Years Team(s)
2006–2007 Fiji
Medal record
Representing  Fiji
Pacific Games
Gold medal – first place 1995 Tahiti Team
Gold medal – first place 1999 Guam Team
Silver medal – second place 1997 American Samoa Team
Bronze medal – third place 1993 Vanuatu Team
Representing  New Zealand
World Netball Championships
Gold medal – first place 2003 Kingston Team
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal – second place 2002 Manchester Team
Gold medal – first place 2006 Melbourne Team

Early life, family and education edit

Davu was born in Nadi, Fiji.[1] Her family home was in Nuku, a village in Serua Province. She began playing netball aged 8 and attended Lomary Secondary School.[2] In November 2007, Davu's father collapsed at Nadi International Airport. He was part of a small group of relatives and friends that were meeting the Fiji team on their return from the 2007 World Netball Championships. He died shortly after.[3][4] She is married to Aporosa Tamaniveli. They met in 2004 when she returned to Fiji on a holiday. Together they have one daughter.[5][6]

Playing career edit

Club career edit

Canterbury Flames edit

Between 2000 and 2006, Davu played for Canterbury Flames in the Coca-Cola Cup/National Bank Cup league.[7][8][9][10] She was a prominent member of the Flames teams that played in four grand finals.[2][11][12][13] She captained Flames during the 2005 season.[1][7][14][15] During this time she also represented Canterbury in the National Provincial Championships.[8]

Northern Force edit

In 2007, Davu played for Northern Force in the National Bank Cup league.[9][10][16][17] In November 2006, Davu was announced as the new head coach of Fiji. It was speculated that she would be released from her contract with Force.[18] In March 2007, Davu was injured in a car accident in Suva. She escaped serious injury but was unable to join the Force team for pre-season.[19][20] She subsequently helped Force reach the 2007 grand final, which they lost to Southern Sting.[21]

Northern Mystics edit

In 2008 and 2009, Davu played for Northern Mystics in the ANZ Championship.[22] Netball New Zealand initially overruled Mystics application to register Davu, partly because she had switched allegiances from New Zealand to Fiji. The ANZ Championship only allowed one foreign player per team and Mystics had already registered Cathrine Latu (Samoa). Netball New Zealand also based their assessment on Davu's below par performance at the 2007 World Netball Championships.[23][24][25] However, Mystics successfully appealed the decision and Davu was eventually cleared to play.[26][27][28][29] To help regain her fitness, Davu became an ambassador for the weight-loss company, Jenny Craig.[29][30][31][32][33] Ahead of the 2009 season, Davu was became a New Zealand citizen.[34] In April 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998.[35][36]

International career edit

Fiji (1993–1999) edit

Between 1993 and 1999, Davu made 55 senior appearances for Fiji.[8][9][37][38][39][40] In 1992, aged just 14, she was selected to play for Fiji at the 1992 World Youth Netball Championships.[2][37][41] She was subsequently a member of the Fiji teams that were bronze medallists at the 1993 South Pacific Mini Games and gold medallists at the 1995 South Pacific Games. She captained the Fiji teams that were silver medallists at the 1997 South Pacific Mini Games and gold medallists at the 1999 South Pacific Games.[39][40] She also captained the Fiji team that finished sixth at the 1999 World Netball Championships.[2][41][42][43]

Team Pasifika/World 7 edit

In June 2000, Vilimaina captained the Team Pasifika selection that played New Zealand in a two match series. The team was coached by Te Aroha Keenan and also featured Teresa Tairi, Jenny-May Coffin, Frances Solia and Sheryl Clarke.[41][44][45][46]

In July 2000, Davu played for the World 7 team that played New Zealand in a three match series. The team was coached by Jill McIntosh and also featured Kathryn Harby (Australia), Elaine Davis (Jamaica), Leana du Plooy (South Africa).[47][48]

New Zealand edit

Between 2000 and 2006, Davu made 60 senior appearances for New Zealand. On 25 November 2000, she made her senior debut against South Africa.[42][49] She was a member of the New Zealand team that were silver medalists at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.[1][2][50] She was a prominent member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2003 World Netball Championships[51][52][53][54] and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.[1][55] Davu was highly regarded as an international goalkeeper. Australia head coach Norma Plummer was a big admirer. Ruth Aitken said Davu rated among the great New Zealand defenders such as Waimarama Taumaunu and Bernice Mene. In October 2005, she announced she was retiring from international netball.[9][56]

Fiji (2007) edit

In 2006 and 2007, Davu served as head coach of Fiji.[18][57][58] She was head coach when Fiji won the gold medal at the 2007 South Pacific Games[59][60] She was player/coach for Fiji at the 2007 Netball World Championships.[37][38][60][61][62] Davu faced criticism for her performances at the tournament. She admitted her fitness and conditioning wasn't what it should have been, but emphasized she was only a late inclusion in the squad after visa issues ruled out some of the other members.[24][25][29]

Tournaments Place Team
1992 World Youth Netball Championships[2][41][37] 5th   Fiji
1993 South Pacific Mini Games[39][40]  
1995 South Pacific Games[39][40]  
1997 South Pacific Mini Games[39][40]  
1999 South Pacific Games[39][40]  
1999 World Netball Championships[2][41][42][43] 6th
2002 Commonwealth Games[1][2][50]     New Zealand
2003 World Netball Championships[51][52][53][54]  
2006 Commonwealth Games[1][55]  
2007 World Netball Championships[37][38][42][60][61][62] 9th   Fiji

Employment edit

Davu has worked as a recruitment consultant for Coverstaff in Auckland.[2][63]

Honours edit

Playing career edit

New Zealand
Fiji
Canterbury Flames
Northern Force

Coaching career edit

Fiji
Individual Awards
Year Award
2000 Fijian Sportswoman of the Year
2002 Sport Canterbury Sports Personality of the Year
2014 Fiji Sports Hall of Fame[6]

Sources:[39][40]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Vilimaina Davu". www.olympic.org.nz. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Where is she now? Vilimaina Davu". www.newsroom.co.nz. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Fiji coach Vilimaina Davu mourns the death of her father". www.rnz.co.nz. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  4. ^ "Davu's dad dies on airport arrival". stuff.co.nz. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. ^ "Silver Fern Vili Davu's miracle daughter". The Australian Women's Weekly. www.nowtolove.co.nz. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Playing Silver Ferns A Bonus: Davu". Fiji Sun. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  7. ^ a b "Netball: Davu re-signs with Canterbury Flames". www.nzherald.co.nz. 5 July 2005. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Netball: Get shorty (But watch out - she's Vili fast)". www.nzherald.co.nz. 21 September 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d "Netball: Fire goes out for 'smiling assassin'". www.nzherald.co.nz. 31 October 2006. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Netball: Tod shocked by Vili's departure from Flames". www.nzherald.co.nz. 1 November 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Netball: Flames' on-form Davu ignites team to victory". www.nzherald.co.nz. 28 May 2000. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  12. ^ "Netball: The National Bank Cup - Northern Force v Canterbury Flames". www.photosport.nz. 31 May 2002. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  13. ^ "National Bank Cup Netball 2004". www.photosport.nz. 18 June 2004. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  14. ^ "National Bank Cup Round two - Diamonds vs Flames". www.photosport.nz. 15 April 2005. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
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  25. ^ a b "Netball: Explosive Davu determined to win place with Mystics". www.nzherald.co.nz. 8 February 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Davu gains clearance for Mystics". stuff.co.nz. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
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  28. ^ "Fijian Vilimaina Davu ready to take court in new netball competition". www.rnz.co.nz. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
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  30. ^ "Netball: Predictions for the new campaign". www.nzherald.co.nz. 3 April 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
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  32. ^ "Vili's Back On Court Thanks To Jenny Craig". www.scoop.co.nz. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  33. ^ "Weighting is over for Vili". stuff.co.nz. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  34. ^ "Davu gets NZ citizenship". www.fijivillage.com. 12 March 2009. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  35. ^ "'Top 25 of the Last 25' leave a lasting imprint". anzpremiership.co.nz. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  36. ^ "'Top 25 of the Last 25' leave a lasting imprint". www.netballnz.co.nz. 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
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  38. ^ a b c "Netball: Davu returns for Fiji". www.nzherald.co.nz. 4 November 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  39. ^ a b c d e f g "Delai, Davu Inducted". Fiji Sun. 22 November 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g "2014 Vilimaina Davu - Netball". Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee. www.sportingpulse.com. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
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  51. ^ a b "Sheryl Clarke and Vilimaina Davu". www.photosport.nz. 20 July 2003. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  52. ^ a b "Vitality Netball World Cup Liverpool 2019 Media Guide" (PDF). www.silverferns.co.nz. 19 July 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 February 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
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  57. ^ "Fiji netball coach threatens resignation". www.rnz.co.nz. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  58. ^ "Davu employs long selection process". www.fijivillage.com. 26 October 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  59. ^ "Two former Silver Ferns guide their countries to gold and silver at South Pacific Games". www.rnz.co.nz. 3 September 2007. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
  60. ^ a b c "Netball: Silver Ferns call in the big guns". www.nzherald.co.nz. 4 November 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  61. ^ a b "Fiji Player/Coach Vilimaina Davu..." photoshelter.com. 10 November 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  62. ^ a b "Netball: The rest of the world minnows chase rankings". www.nzherald.co.nz. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  63. ^ "Helping others achieve goals". www.nzherald.co.nz. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2023.

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