Designated jersey
Seriously, what’s with the debate on the 15s rugby team not wearing the designated jersey in last weekend’s match against the All Blacks?
What were they hoping to achieve if the boys wore those jerseys?
How will this impact the number of active cases we have in our country?
Will it ever?
Someone please enlighten me.
Otherwise, can we just leave the team alone and let them do what they do best?
Please, kerekere!
Fulori Turaga, Tacirua
Biggest fear
What NZ Rugby witnessed last Saturday was the biggest fear they have been having for years and even for Australia Rugby too.
Thanks to our European and French counterparts for letting our boys play at the professional level and getting the same money as an elite athlete is paid in the market which has shown its fruits today.
Because for years Australia and NZ have put a lot of unnecessary restrictions and red tape for us to come and play in these two nations unless you’re very, very good and marketable or you’re willing to play for them for peanuts.
The high intensity competition, week in and week out in Europe and the French competition have changed the way our ruggers play today and even more hats off to our local boys for putting their hands up and making every die hard Fijian fan smile, despite the difficult time we are all in all over the world.
Malo to captain Botia and Johnny Dyer for topping the stats, you guys are going to make the next seven days the longest ever of our lives as we look forward to Test 2.
Misaele Temp Fokilau, Penrith, NSW, Australia
Emotions run high
The 23 players who donned the Flying Fijians outfit in Dunedin against the All Blacks have done our country proud.
I agree with grandparents, Rosana and Simione Kuruvoli, that emotions ran high, as Fiji played the All Blacks.
Our boys assembled for a short period, while the All Blacks were laced with game time experience and had the support of the crowd.
Simione Kuruvoli, who is a former national judoka, said that it was humbling to witness his grandson accomplish his dream of playing against the All Blacks.
Botia, our courageous skipper, led by example alongside Sau, Tuisue, Dyer, Nakarawa, Nayacalevu and Kunavula, although I would have loved to see more action from our front row, Nadolo and Volavola!
The first Test is historic, and we look forward to the second Test in Hamilton.
Our editor-in-chief wrapped up the first Test with these lines, “There was passion in our game! They played with purpose. They carried the hopes and aspirations of a nation ravaged by COVID-19. They knew they could bring some hope and give Fijians something to cheer for. What a beauty! What a Test!”
Wananavu and vinaka Flying Fijians!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
How to report better
There was an article in the other paper (12/7) with the above title.
It went on to say, “Journalists get a timely lesson from the A-G”.
I was relieved to note that two journalists from The Fiji Times also attended the training.
Perhaps the training would help the daily to shed its unflattering image of being a “garbage” paper and become worthy of publishing civil service vacancies, having the Ministry of Education’s worksheets for students and be available to passengers on Fiji Airways when the flights resume.
My wife’s guess is that it is wishful thinking on my part.
So I asked her if it was too unreasonable to hope for a spirit of fairness and goodwill.
Arvind Mani, Nadi
Euro 2020 finale
The Euro 2020 finale is over and after another frantic and fast paced battle Italy stole the penalty shootout amidst a strong England team in tears and agony as the 55 years no win voodoo continues.
But the question is after so much is invested funded and planned is it fair to declare a winner through penalty kicks why succumb to so much pressure.
After full time and extra time if still a deadlock, I suggest we have a 30 to 60 minutes rest and start the game again to fight the battle and get a real match winner.
Seeing the English players and fans just sober cry especially the shooters that missed, it’s a mental agony which can remain a stigma or phobia forever.
Just have a long break and start I am sure another one hour of battle will re-energise and get a winner with the whole team involved not take to the low and get one person to take all the blame we need change for the better and healthy sport.
Vinaka England for rising to the occasion and at least you revived the 55 years of pain to some sweet cherry soccer.
Vinaka joka kece.
Shalwyn Prasad, Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva
Confusion over ‘lockdown’
Is Fiji the only country which has different definitions of lockdown?
And guess what, they are all in English (the same version we use for communicating).
Alongside comparisons with other countries, curfew (someone said care for you but this remains a focus on lockdown) has been mentioned as well to differentiate and ease the befuddling drama.
Now honestly, I think (that would most probably mean that I too have a brain somewhere in the cupboard) my intellectual capabilities are far lower than those who wear coats and ties (I don’t even have one) and basically are the providers (or readers) of the different narratives.
I don’t know about you (I’ll never really come to know anyway) but the more I hear the word lockdown in Fiji, the more confused I get.
So I will just stick with personal experience (there is hard proof).
Lockdown (the original one in 2020) is the exact same measure which worked superbly in Fiji when the first wave (the virus) arrived and cases made it into the community.
Once contained, there were zero community cases for around one year (that’s four seasons in the Northern hemisphere).
Since then, while the virus mutated around the world, I suppose, the definition of lockdown mutated around Fiji.
Mostly, Viti Levu (the island which now has many dark red and blue dots on the map).
Herein, where did the 28 days of hard lockdown in Fiji suggestion originate from?
Mohammed Imraz Janif, Natabua, Lautoka
Try Narube’s budget
I applaud the Unity Fiji alternative national budget presentation by Savenaca Narube.
Given his extensive education and wealth of experience, I expected a lot of big words.
But he rolled out his budget pillars very simply and practically, and I watched and listened to the end – on a Friday night.
Imagine $1 billion redirected towards, our COVID fight ($150 million), money in our people’s pockets ($600m), and strong support for businesses ($100m) — among many other initiatives steered by strong guiding pillars.
We need this here and now, and the answer from this alternative budget has been under our nose all along. Try that budget.
It will rejuvenate the economy. It will help us fight COVID together. It will end tokenism. It will improve our financial situation.
It will improve the gap between poor and rich.
It will put our nation and people first. It will really and truly be Fiji first.
Rick Eyre, Labasa
Game of chance
England waited for 55 years to reach another soccer final after the 1966 World Cup win at Wembley Stadium but lost on penalty kicks to Italy.
England you are lucky to be in two finals but our Fiji soccer team is still waiting for a chance to compete in a soccer World Cup.
After watching a few of the important Euro soccer matches I think soccer is a game of chance.
Sukha Singh, Labasa
Legal precedent
Is there any legal precedent, where the rights and freedoms of the minority are sacrificed to appease the majority?
Gabe Simpson, Rakiraki
Rugby politics
Wearing a ”Vaccinate Fiji” jumper written on the jersey is not the right way in promoting vaccination.
They are rugby players not advertisers.
Nevertheless, I salute the boys for making a wise decision and for the wonderful game.
God bless you all.
Varitema Tuvuki, Saru, Lautoka
Low on sugar
It brings salty tears to my eyes to see my Sugar City running extremely low on sugar.
Narayan Reddy, Lautoka
Setting the trend
Our Waiyavi shop is setting the trend and example for the people – “no mask, no entry and no purchases”.
So many unmasked people were turned away.
One thing I can’t understand is parents sending their unmasked children to the shop.
Thank you Ron for this, at least the people of Waiyavi are getting a lesson in COVID-19 protocols.
Ron and family put health before wealth.
Allen Lockington, Kava Place, Lautoka
From the top
Our country needs to consolidate from the top.
Imagine the picture.
Our Prime Minister with his political opponents – leading the COVID fight – together, united.
That picture alone is more contagious than COVID.
It is the picture of Fiji – infected with Unity.
Let’s start again from there.
Rick Eyre, Labasa
1974 Test
Below is an interesting message from Rodney M. Samuels, a former Fiji rugby rep: “Watched with interest, catching the highlights of the rugby Test in Dunedin over the weekend of July 10 between Fiji and the ABs, was pretty happy with the effort the Fiji boys put in to ruffle the feathers of the ABs and dot down with tries a couple of times, then had my feathers ruffled listening to the Fiji coach talking about the game, and mistakenly claiming that that game was the best the Fijians had done against the ABs ever.
“l had to pull out and dust off the ole scrapbook and get a copy of the photo of the boys in that Fiji squad that took on and had the ABs beat at 80 minutes, in that game on June 11, 1974 at Buckhurst Park Suva, but in true AB fashion they hammered away and pipped us with a slick scissor-move to put lan Hurst across the line under the posts and convert to finish ahead at 14-13 ….. 2/3rds of the boys have ended their life journey so l wasn’t going to sit back and let that honour/pride be taken away from the guys and their families.”
Vijay P. Madhavan, Borron Rd, Suva
Staying alive
As an iTaukei I would like to sincerely thank Jean Helan Hatch for her wonderful piece of writing which was published in this column titled “Staying alive” (FT 11/07).
While reading your letter madam I was unconscious that my eyes were in tears, however, at the same time I have a sense of pride deep within me for being a iTaukei of this country we call Fiji.
As many of us iTaukei are succumbing to this pandemic as reported, in your wonderful description you lamented and I quote, “Please, you beautiful, generous, strong and proud yet humble people –– stay alive”.
Madam Hatch thank you for your prayers, but I will guarantee you because of who we are, a God-fearing people, we will rise to the challenge when the time comes and we will definitely stay alive here in our God given land that we call Viti.
Kositatino Tikomaibolatagane, Vuninokonoko Rd, Navua
Vaccinate slogan
I guess the much anticipated “Vaccinate Fiji” slogan on the Flying Fijians rugby jersey brought about a complex mixture of minds that the team had to wear another set.
Perhaps the executives of Fiji Airways could paint that slogan on one of the aircraft and also at that wooden building along Gordon St to start with.
Please keep rugby clean and away from unvaccinated people.
Areki Dawai, Suva
Memories of ’74
For the benefit of all the younger generations of Fiji rugby, the Fiji Rugby Union should have the duty of care and be very prompt in deservedly preserving the memories of the surviving members of that famous 1974 team.
Rugby history almost happened that day.
Will our sports editors, with every support from FRU, duly research and share an upset that almost happened on the then Laucala Bay turf, Buckhurst Park?
Fiji 13 –14 NZ All Blacks.
Will our TV stations replay this match as soon as possible?
Our brave warriors in Hamilton need to be told this piece of Fiji rugby history before Test Two against the mighty All Blacks this Saturday, July 17.
Miracles do happen.
Pray.
Believe.
Impossible is nothing.
Ronnie Chang, Martintar, Nadi
