In August, 1972 The Fiji Times ran reports of the prospects of two athletes Usaia Sotutu and Samuela Yavala competing in the 1972 Munich Olympic Games but this depended on funds.
Yavala was attending a four-year scholarship at Eastern New Mexico University while Sotutu was attending Brigham Young University in Salt Lake City.
The newspaper reported that the Fiji Amateur Sports Association (FASA) had indicated its confidence in entering Sotutu in the 3000 metres steeplechase and the 10,000m and Yavala in the 200m and 400m.
With the Olympic Games only two and a half weeks away, funds were desperately needed and a raffle was being organised by Tony Moore Sr to try and pay a debt of $5000 owed by Fiji Amateur Athletics Association to FASA.
On September 1, this newspaper reported that the fundraising for the two athletes had almost reached its target. Funds were just $339.70 short of the $1640 target. Contributions came from:
Government — $500, Central Manufacturing Co Ltd — $100, $50 from Carpenters Group, Burns Philp, Hotel Suva, Northern Hotels Ltd, Hotel Metropole, Travelodge Fiji Ltd, Cathay Hotels, Stinson Group; $20 from S Narain, $18 from Tiki Prints; $15 from D Gokal & Co, JN Falvey, Coconut Board; $10 each from LG Usher, JA and JAE Moore, C Hindson, Rt GKCakobau, SB Brown, Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau, Ratu W Toganivalu, BM Jannif, DP Ragg, SB Desai, JB Takala, Semesa Sikivou, Kwong Tiy and Co, CL Cheng, HW Yee; $5.30 from L Waitawa, $5 from Ratu JB Toganivalu, J Mavoa, U Koroi, LL Nasilivata, P Naqasima, A Mataitoga, CA Shah, E March, JR George, JB Ackland, Dr A Ali Asgar, BJ Wightman and $2 from G Watkins.
