One for the history books
Young Alowesi Nakarawa of Nasinu Secondary will have something to cherish when he talks to his friends about the 44-3 thrashing his side handed Natabua High in the Vodafone Deans semi final. As Alowesi dived over to score a well-worked try for Nasinu, our cameraman, Jonacani Lalakobau, captured him aptly. The young lad played a crucial role in guiding the blue brigade to a back-to-back final. Nasinu was imperious and showed their dominance over Natabua. I have been following Nasinu during the Southern Zone playoffs. They finished third behind Suva Grammar and Marist Brothers but have created history by making it to the final. They beat the top-ranked sides from the Eastern and Western Zone- Queen Victoria Schol and Natabua. This itself is a huge victory for the side. In the other semi final, Ratu Kadavulevu School showed that it is serious in winning back the Deans Trophy. The side humbled the Lions from Suva Grammar 48-28. RKS deserved the win. Their forwards did the damage, while the backline was explosive. The boys from Lodoni showed hunger and aggression to drown the Lions fightback. RKS last won the U18 trophy in 2018, thumping Cuvu College 20-0. They defended the title they won the previous year, beating neighbours QVS 20-5. Nasinu has yet to lay hands on the prestigious trophy. They lost to RKS and QVS 19-17 and 10-9 in the final in 1988 and 1999. They lost again to QVS 31-21 in 2012 and 27-13 last year. Hence, it’s redemption time for Nasinu. With a religious principal in Naisa Toko and the rugby “think tanks” in assistant principal Taniela Vakamoce and Naca Saumi, who is a renowned winning expert, Nasinu has a good chance of winning. However, the Lodonians will want to bury a seven-year-old drought. Thus, both teams have everything to play for. I’d love Nasinu to win the Deans U18 Trophy for the first time! Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu
Fulton University
It is great to read that Fulton Adventist University College hopes to be granted full university accreditation by the Fiji Higher Education Commission soon (FT 16/8). Thank you Finance Minister Prof Biman Prasad and the Fiji Government for supporting Fulton College as it aims to achieve university status, as the inauguration is planned for September 9, 2025. As an old age student in Fulton College in Tailevu from 2005 to 2008, doing BA in Theology; I believe that the four years training has turned my life around to be in Christ and help others to be ready for eternity as well. Parents should encourage their sons and daughters to enter Fulton University as students go through a holistic lifestyle with healthy food, no smoking, no alcohol or grog and no late night activities in the university compound. Best of all, most students have accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour and go out to serve in their respective fields of studies and are part of the Gospel commission, in their own individual special ways. Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Tacirua
E-ticketing and cash
We should always keep in mind that Fiji is a “developing country” when making decisions about our country. Certain things might not be as smooth and as fast as it’s practised in developed countries. The E-ticketing system is such a thing. Despite many attempts, this system comes up with its own challenges. Challenges whereby the general public and service providers both feel the pinch We do realise government’s revenue is considered here which helps avoid leakage in fares received. People are not against the progress towards digitalisation, but to continue using our people as guinea pigs to experiment such methods are upsetting and frustrating. We need a system whereby both the service providers and our people are happy with the service. Until we are able to get on track with the dragging E-ticketing system, getting cash back will help the people a lot. After all the bus users are the ones who suffer the most when they are left with no choice with the changing trends in terms of technologies that keep having hiccups. Please stop comparing Fiji with developed countries. We are not saying we cannot reach their level but perhaps we are a bit far in terms of duration in certain new implementations. If things were that simple, we would have reached “Singapore level” long time back as suggested by some self-proclaimed experts. Let’s move forward gradually but not at the cost of the struggling public for whom public transport is the main source of travel to reach their workplace which provides their bread and butter. I believe this will be my last thoughts on this topic as I have written more than enough to get the massage across. Period. Kirti Patel, Lautoka
Thanks Aspen
I would like to express my appreciation to Aspen Lautoka Hospital for the medical care provided to the former attorney-general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who was recently admitted with reported stroke symptoms. It is evident from his latest court appearance following discharge that he is in relatively good physical and mental condition, remarkably so for someone said to have suffered a stroke. Nonetheless, credit must be given where it’s due. The team at Aspen Lautoka has clearly demonstrated a commendable job in ensuring his swift recovery, and for that, I thank them. And Aiyaz no longer needs to fly to Singapore. Now that the former A-G and minister for everything is back on his feet, I trust he will man up and face his ongoing legal matters without further delay, cases that, frankly, have been dragging on for what feels like an eternity. The fact of the matter is, it’s time to face the music. Nishant Singh, Lautoka
Controversy and dispute
It happened during the quarter-finals and again during the semi-final of the Deans trophy matches. When it comes to decision-making on the ground, we should respect the match officials and their decision. No external forces should be entertained to sway their decision. It will defeat the spirit of the game itself. Me qaqa tiko ga na rakavi. Pita Soroaqali, Rakiraki
Alaska summit
The fallout of President Trump and Putin’s summit has brought out USA’s limits as a superpower. Not only it lost its prestige but friends as well. Rakesh Chand Sharma, Nadi
Body weight
I believe sufficient rest and a well fed individual puts on extra weight. A sickly person losses body weight. Dan Urai, Lautoka
Donald Trump
I believe President Donald Trump was elected by the American people to govern their own country, the United States of America. However, in a quest for a Nobel Peace Prize award, he is now under the illusion that he was elected to govern the whole world. I wonder when he will start governing America. BHARAT MORRIS, Gold Coast, Australia
Let bygones be bygones
Professor Wadan Narsey reminds us that former A-G Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum “had also been my cell mate in 1988 together with the Group of 18 who were protesting the 1987 coup”. “We were then prosecuted and found guilty by Justice Devendra Pathik” (ST 17/8). Wadan is very graceful in not holding any grudge against Mr Sayed-Khaiyum for his wrongdoings and the injustice he perpetrated against others, including him, during his reign in power in the post-coup Bainimarama regime. That’s fine. But Mr Sayed-Khaiyum like other narcissistic megalomaniac leaders make an interesting study on how when power gets into one’s head one can go rogue. Rajend Naidu, Sydney, Australia
Plugged in winners
The Robot Humanoid Olympics are on in China over the weekend with hundreds of teams from 16 countries. There are many of the usual sports including track and field, football, table tennis, but also speed medicine sorting and cleaning services. Finally, I might have a chance for an Olympic medal, maybe in the medicine sorting events. The last real Olympics showed how wide the definition of “sport” has become with the introduction of “break dancing” and “skate boarding” although the traditional events were still there. At least the 1900 event “Live Pigeon Shooting” hasn’t returned to the Olympics. I might be out of date but I prefer the old sports. I’d rather see a person competing not a person with a keyboard competing. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia
Never give up
The Australian Wallabies turned out to change the rugby pundits and followers’ narratives, by dismantling the mighty Springboks on Saturday. They were robbed, in my opinion, during the 3rd Test with the British Lions, but returned with a positive attitude. Although they were down by 17 points prior to the break, the Springboks never even scored any additional points, until the end. It clearly showed the Wallabies sheer defence, discipline and counter attacking abilities, whenever they saw fit. They outscored the Springboks in their own back yard by 33 to 0, in the second half. What a humbling performance! I believe that we will continue to see a very much improved and daring Wallabies, within the coming international rugby series. Samu Silatolu, Nakasi, Nausori
Rugby upset
Boy, what a massive performance from the Joe Schmidt-coached Wallabies as four-time Rugby World Cup champions and defending champions of the Rugby Championship, the Springboks, were brought down to Earth. Australia recorded their first win over South Africa there in 14 years, beating the home side 38-22 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Passionate South African fans were left fuming as the Wallabies stunned the Springboks, coming from 22-0 down to record one of the best comebacks in the history of rugby. The hosts started like a house on fire and took control but sloppy lineouts, penalties at breakdowns, unforced errors at crucial times and complacency let them down, and the visitors scored six unanswered tries to turn a 22-5 halftime deficit into a huge upset, showing their resilience and resurgence. Meanwhile, Levuka’s golden man, Anthony Sahai, who is a passionate All Blacks fan, be it 7s or 15s rugby, and I had every reason to celebrate as Argentina’s ambition to start their Rugby Championship season with a first-ever home win over the All Blacks 15s was shattered in Cordoba as the visitors bagged a six-try, well-deserved 41-24 win. The Los Pumas fought back in the second half to cut a 10-31 deficit to seven points, but a pair of late maul tries from Samisoni Taukei’aho gave the All Blacks 15s a bonus point win. The All Blacks were clumsy. Their performance in the second half was marred by poor discipline. They’ll have to regroup and ensure that before they face South Africa they return from Argentina with maximum points. Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam, Nadawa, Nasinu