“This is where champions are made, when no one is looking, behind closed doors. It’s very long, it’s very boring, I’m not going to lie. But this is where the champions are built.”
These were the sentiments echoed by Pacific and national sprint King Banuve Tabakaucoro as he undergoes a rigorous off-season training programme with the 15 athletes under his guidance.
He emphasises that the journey to becoming a champion begins behind closed doors, away from the public eye.
Under his Bullet Academy Athletics Club which he began last year in Suva, his 15 athletes are making significant sacrifices, choosing to forego holidays and free time to focus on their fitness and skill development.
“A lot of them are sacrificing their holidays, their free time. A lot of them wanted to go to the village but they’ve made that decision to stay over this year and work on their fitness and just work on what we’re building on next year,” he explained.
The steady growth of the club, with increasing athlete numbers each year, is a testament to the quality of coaching and the commitment to excellence.
Underscoring the mission of his club which is: to nurture the next generation of Fijian athletes in athletics, focusing on speed, strength, discipline, and culture.
“Each year I get more athletes and that’s a very good sign for the club and also for our coaching team,” Tabakaucoro said.
He is optimistic about the future, confident that the hard work during the off-season will pay off with medals and success in the athletics arena.
“If you’re looking to win a medal at the Cokes next year or in athletics in general, you need to put in work during the off-season.”
With so many schools working hard on their off-season preparation Tabakaucoro anticipates a tough and tightly contested Fiji Finals next year.
