“We have tasted victory and we know how good it feels.”
These were the words of Natabua High School athletics team manager Rusiate Wadali as the countdown continues to the much anticipated Coca-Cola Games at the ANZ Stadium in Suva on April 20-22.
It’s nine days away from the three-day games.
Marist Brothers High School, meanwhile, is the boys’ defending champion.
The school will feature 83 athletes. They carry the hope of the Natabua family, and the people of the West.
Wadali said like other schools, the athletes had been urged to give their best.
He said Natabua athletes would not be pressured to win gold medals, but to give their utmost best and the results would look after itself.
The school motto is “In Scientia Fortitudo” (In knowledge lies strength). It will inspire and help the athletes and Wadali’s message to his athletes is simple.
“We will be there to make it happen,” he said.
“We tasted victory in 2015 and we know how good it felt to be a champion.
“We respect all schools and we are optimistic of the chances that we have.”
He said the athletes, coaches and teachers had been working tirelessly throughout their preparation.
“The athletes had been urged to practise good sportsmanship during the three days of competition.
“We trust what we have done this year, we trust our training, our coaches and we have reset a lot of programs in school, especially in training to utilise the knowledge of our teachers in assisting the students.
“We are hopeful that all athletes will give their best in all events.”
He said one of the factors that affected their performances last year was the intimidation by other athletes during the long-distance races.
Wadali said the team had mapped out a plan to counter the threats, and for their athletes to enjoy the competition.
“We fell short last year because of some hiccups we faced during the games as some of our athletes was intimidated before the race.
“The intimidations were done before and during the races where our athletes were verbally abused by other competitors, especially in long-distance races.
“But we are preparing well and we are following a strict program in our preparation and making sure we give our best for the games.
“Our athletes have been training hard to counter these threats and for our runners to run away from those individuals that intimidate us so we can enjoy the races and give our best.
“Our focus this year is to portray the high spirit of good sportsmanship throughout the games so that we can eliminate these intimidations and threats through the normal process of the games.”
Wadali urged the Natabua family and the people of the West to support the school and the athletes.
“We are calling on parents, former scholars, fans and even the people in the West to support us in this campaign.”
“We thank the school administration, especially the principal and the teachers, for the depth of knowledge in assisting the athletes.
“We also thank our PTA, former scholars and those who have helped the school during our preparation.
“The new synthetic tracks at Churchill Park has helped our preparation.”
Natabua, has over the years produced some fine athletes and the onus is for this group of dedicated athletes to re-write the school name in the games history books.
Only time will tell.
Names to watch in this year’s Coca-Cola Games for Natabua are:
1. Kadavu native and senior boys 400m defending champion, Julian Vuetibau. Inspired by the death of his father last month, the lanky runner is eager to stamp his mark in the event.
He broke Batinisavu Uluiyata’s Lautoka Zone record early this year and is expected to face tough challenge from top schools such as Queen Victoria School (QVS), Ratu Kadavulevu School (RKS) and Marist Brothers High School (MBHS).
2. Shane Tuvusa is a former MBHS sprinter who has shown allegiance to Natabua this year. He is one the favourites to win the Blue Ribbon event.
The Ba native is expected to face tough competition from his former teammate, Keasi Naidroka of Marist, reigning Blue Ribbon champion Ilaitia Waqa, and RKS sprinter Sailosi Tubuilagi
Meanwhile, Jasper Williams High School is the girls defending champion.
