In a virtual message to Parliament for the National Budget debate, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, said he was selfisolating at his residence to remain safe during this COVID-19 pandemic attack.
“I would like to extend our best wishes to Team Fiji at the Tokyo Olympics,” his statement read.
“We’re counting on our Olympians to fight hard and show the world what our small country can do, we are all with them in spirit.”
The Team Fiji men’s 7s teamstarted Fiji’s campaign in Tokyo yesterday with a 24-19 win over hosts Japan by scoring four tries to three.
They played Canada, the Rio Olympics bronze medallist, as the second opponent last night when this issue went to press.
Fiji’s possible medal wins are in the hands of the Team Fiji men’s and women’s rugby teams. Fiji’s other medal prospect was Eileen Cikamatana, who was lost to Australia after her Commonwealth Games gold medal win in 2018.
Fiji men’s coach Baber is using the diffi culties and the deaths brought about by the pandemic at home to motivate his players in the Olympics.
He said the period Fiji had been going through had been the toughest of his coaching career. With Bainimarama leading the support, Baber, whose contract expires after the Olympic Games has to front up and bring back the 7s Olympics gold medal.
A win tomorrow eases the thoughts and dark memories of the pandemic.
“In Fiji, there’s huge pressure, it’s an expected process,” Baber, who lost the 2018 Commonwealth Games rugby title to New Zealand, told World Rugby.
“It’s been mentioned to me every day for the last five years. So, you get some sort of indication of exactly what is expected of you from the country.
“The expectation is always that you go and front up, and win gold. That’s my challenge. The players are fully aware of that, they’ve grown up in Fiji, they know exactly what the media will cover and where the scrutiny will lie.
They never shirk away from it. “And, for the country I just want them to have a celebration.”
