Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata says it was unfortunate to see schools around Fiji disallow their students from joining sports clubs and academies to participate in major secondary school sporting events.
The former Fiji Bati star player says students were restricted to representing their school only at events like the Coca-Cola Games and the Vodafone Deans trophy.
Kativerata said this after little to no 17-year-olds to 18-year-olds joined the Fiji National Rugby League’s Eastern Rugby League Academy that had their first training session yesterday.
The academy was formed to provide a pathway for those who were interested in chasing a career in rugby league.
“We have almost no 17 to 18-year-olds in our academy because schools stop them from doing so.
“This is to allow their students to prepare for big sporting events in the country,” he said.
Kativerata said academies like these lead to student opportunities of securing overseas contracts and scholarships.
“When kids are part of these types of academies or clubs, their chances of securing scholarships or contracts are very high.
“It disappoints me when I see these things happening, sometimes even the students don’t have a say in what they want to do.”
Kativerata formed two rugby league academies, one in the central division and another in the western division.
“So the one we have here in Suva is called the Eastern Academy while the other one in Lautoka is called the Western Academy.”
He said there were a lot of young people who have played in the Deans Trophy competition but were unable to secure scholarships or contracts from overseas clubs.
“Our main focused is to help our young talented children go overseas and earn for the families.”
“I always tell them to think of the struggles they face at home and imagine what they could do for their families if they were given a chance to play rugby league overseas.”
