Sonya Febbo is a name most people in the Victorian netball community know. In her words, she’s been around for years! Player, parent, committee member – she has taken on many roles, and VMMNA is thrilled to announce that Sonya has recently been elected as President.
Sonya first began her involvement with VMMNA as a Team Manager in 2017. Originally, she was going to support her daughter Sara, who was a part of the 2017 Mixed Open team that took out the title that year but stepped in to be a Team Manager for the Res 2’s and the rest is history.
“VMMNA is a family and I feel very lucky to be a part of that. To have had both my daughters be involved (Victoria as a Team Manager in 2022 and 2023) has been special.”
It wasn’t long until Sonya was elected to the Committee in 2019 and stepped into the Tour Manager role later that year. Two years of COVID-19 and two cancelled AMMNA Championships later, VMMNA finally got to see Sonya thrive as out Tour Manager over the 2022 and 2023 Championships. 6 titles in 2 years over 6 divisions, she had the ability to bring the squad together and help drive a more professional standard.
“Enough about the past, let’s focus on the current and the future!”
Sonya’s first AMMNA Championships as VMMNA President saw all 6 Victorian teams make the Grand Final, with 4 bringing home the title.
“I am just so proud of every single person who has been apart of this 2023/24 campaign. Not only our amazing players, support staff, umpires, coaches and Gez (Head Coach, Gerard Murphy) but the families, friends, parents and partners who have all made sacrifices for this to be one our most successful national campaigns ever.”
Providing a clear pathway for boys and men, providing more VMMNA clinics and strengthening the connection with Netball Victoria are all key areas Sonya and the VMMNA committee see as key priorities.
“Each year, more and more boys are taking up netball and it’s important for us to provide a space where they can play, especially once they begin to age out of club and association netball.”
M-League and Junior M-League go from strength to strength every year which is a great sign for the future of Victorian Men’s Netball.
Sonia and VMMNA wish to thank Matthew Blomeley for his leadership as President. Matt remains on the committee, recently taking up the role of Vice President.
