KAJI is translated of something small and commonly used to describe small children, now the word has become synonymous with primary school sports.
Every year during the second term school break, the Kajis or the primary school kids strut their stuff on the playing fields.
But that is the local pinnacle of a tournament that starts almost 10 weeks before the district teams unite with schools in each district going for their weekly competition.
It is truly remarkable in the sense that it allows children to be physically active and in a way provides opportunities for parents to be part of something with their children. Often at times, the parents get more passionate.
The Rewa Galaxy Kaji Rugby tournament sees primary school players from most corners of Fiji coming to Suva. The tournament has its buzz and has become a national affair.
This competition sees districts picking their best players from the various schools that take part in the weekly local competition.
It is a costly affair which starts from the weekly competition.
Parents provide travel to venues, meals and equipment. Some schools fundraise every week to provide for meals and bear incidental costs.
Rugby mother Verenaisi Raicola said her family was involved in weekly activities such as selling food for fundraising for her son’s school rugby team.
Her son was then selected for the Nasinu Kaji team. She said apart from other fundraising activities, the family also paid $160 as the athletes levy.
Suva players paid $50 as various fundraisers and sponsorship allowed the district to go into camp.
Fiji Primary Schools Rugby Union president George Seruiratu said teachers get into fundraising as well.
“We look at Suva and Nasinu, and we say to maintain the team with meals, accommodation, travel and all other logistics would cost between $10,000 to $20,000 depending the number of players and teams,” he said.
“Now look at places such as Cakaudrove, Macuata, Namosi, Naitasiri and Ra. Cakaudrove and Macuata spend almost that amount in travel alone. And these are rural areas, farming areas and the parents of the children fundraise or pay for their children.
“It is a costly affair and we are hoping that Fiji Rugby Union and the sponsors are able to perhaps assist districts such as these with travel at least. And since there is so much investment into the teams, there has to be proper organisation as well.”
Macuata manager Jovesa Nailagilagi said the teachers also spent on their teams and students.
“The teachers in such rural areas are often looked upon as leaders and they lead the fundraising drives,” he said.
“We don’t have the facilities or the luxuries that teams such as Suva, Nasinu or even Tailevu have. The schools are in remote areas, there are no expert coaches giving advice and finance is not readily available,” he said.
“The teachers fundraised to ensure the players are well looked after and I hope this would show on the field.”
Cakau East from Cakaudrove in Vanua Levu looks after two schools in Rabi and there players in the team who made the journey first to Vanua Levu and then to Suva.
Manager Jone Rateba said their biggest struggle was finance and travel.
He said schools were in remote areas so they don’t have the luxury of having weekly competitions.
Rateba said a lot of thanks should go to the parents who fundraised to send their children to the competition.
“The parents paid their fare and we had to fundraise for the rest of the things. We have two competitions,” Rateba said.
“One is the zone and the other is the district level one, so we picked our zone squads and then we had a district tournament from which we picked out teams to come to Suva.”
He said to get their four teams to Viti Levu cost them about $20,000, most spent on travel.
Even Namosi is faced with similar struggles.
Namosi coach Tito Vodowaqa said money was not the only struggle his team faced. He added the remoteness does not allow for much exposure as well.
He admitted organising money through fundraisers had become a daily activity before the tournament to ensure children travel with all required to make the trip a success.
“It’s really hard getting players together also. The schools are very far apart. The players can only camp at the weekends and we get only two days to train,: he said.
The sponsors have given $120,000 to the tournament and FPRSU president George Seruiratu said the tournament is not getting the funding it deserves.
FRU’s annual report under its development, selection and related expenses stated that in 2014, $71,457 was spent on the Kaji Tournament. Sponsorship last year was also $120,000.
In 2013, FRU spent $57,107 on the tournament.
Seruiratu said primary schools fundraised for travel and their food while being part of the tournament and grassroots rugby needed to be financed adequately.
“We have had some difficulty in organising the tournament. All has to do with finance,” he said.
“Even from the first day, it was difficult because the funds are not with us. They are with Fiji Rugby Union.
“So if we want something we take an invoice or a receipt to FRU and then they release the funds, so it is hard.”
Chief executive officer Radrodro Tabualevu confirmed discussions with the sponsors and confirmed the need to discuss with the organisers the possibility of hosting the tournament at three different centres next year.
He added FRU supported the development of rugby in the country and encouraged provincial unions, rugby clubs, and age grade rugby teams to organise their competitions. It requested that the tournaments were in compliance with the overarching goals of FRU.
Tabualevu said it was up to the individual districts to raise the funds. He said school abroad raised their own money when competing in such tournaments.
He said the money that was given by the sponsors were subjected to tax and that is why they spent lesser amount on the Kaji competition instead of the $120,000 that is given.
“What we want to see is the money going into actual rugby. What we are seeing now is that a lot of money is being spent on travel and accommodation,” he said.
“Look at athletics, the schools themselves collect the money and then the sponsorship provides venue and even management. We cannot be paying travel for all schools.
“Somehow here in Fiji there is an expectation that Rugby House would meet the travel costs.”
He said a formula was needed to make everything work within the budget.
Seruiratu said Kaji Rugby was the stepping stone for many Flying Fijians and they had to be properly supported for the future teams to make progress.
