FIJI Residents coach Jo Dakuitoga has done the hard yards with four Rugby League World Cup campaigns and after a challenging journey in rugby league he now thinks it’s time to pass on the baton to young coaches to take the team to the future.
Dakuitoga said he hadn’t made any decision as to when he would retire as his focus lay on getting his players to don the Vodafone Fiji Bati jersey.
“I’ve been part of rugby league since 1999 and this is my fourth world cup and in the first one I played for Fiji. In 2008 I was the head coach and in the other two world cups I was the assistant coach and for me it’s a challenge especially grooming young players and drilling them to become good players,” he said.
“We can see the fruit of our hard work and for me personally I was thinking it’s time for me to take a rest but after the world cup I will then decide my next step. It’s time for our young coaches to take on the responsibility for example we have a good assistant coach in Vela Tawake. He is the Nadi Aviators head coach and he has a good reputation with Nadi, the provincial champions for two years.
“I am happy he is with us as he can help around and if my decision to retire next year is confirmed we have a good substitute who can replace me and continue the good work. I’ve done so much for rugby league.”
Dakuitoga was also happy that the team was invited for a clean-up campaign, an initiative by the Fiji National Rugby League, Lami Town Council and the World Wide Fund for Nature-Pacific with Lami residents on better waste management at Tikaram Park in Lami.
“This is the first time that we have done community work and it’s sad that we as locals don’t keep our environment clean,” he said.
“This should be the beginning for FNRL in engaging in community work.
“With only a few positions left to be filled I hope some of our local boys will be given the chance to play in their first Rugby League World Cup. The boys are all hyped up and we have three players who played in the 2013 world cup and this is a chance for them to prove themselves if they want to make it to the final squad.”
