Waisake Kativerata is looking forward to his role as the new Vodafone Fiji Bati head coach.
Kativerata takes over from Joe Rabele and assumes the role of national coaching director.
Fiji National Rugby League chairman Aporosa Lutunauga said they were confident Kativerata was the man to take the Bati to the 2025 Rugby League World Cup in France and he would direct the entire development program in the lead up to the event.
“Wise has the capacity and grit to undertake this critical role in the next three years,” he said.
“He is among the few who have NRL High Performance coach level three with the highest success rate in nurturing and developing elite Fijian players for the NRL.”
Some of the players that had gone through Kativerata’s recruitment contract were Sisa Waqa, Semi Radradra, Suliasi Vunivalu, Tui Kamikamica, Samu Valemei, Taniela Sadrugu, Iosefo Masi, Gabriel Tabua and Asesela Mana. Kativerata hails from Verata Wailevu in Tailevu with maternal links to Nakalou Village in Macuata, Vanua Levu.
He attended Nausori District School and Central High School which is Sila Central High School now.
He has a record of 18 years as a player and 12 years as a coach.
His role as the national coaching director will be to formulate and execute the sport’s four-year development plan and pathway plan. He was the interim coach for the Fiji Bati at the Rugby League World Cup last year.
Wise, as he is commonly known, is a former professional rugby league player, who played in the early 2000s for the Fiji Bati side.
