Champions four-in-a-row
THE try that Semi “The Trailer” Radradra scored brought memories of Ronaldo’s stunning free-kick against Spain.
The try and goal brought fans to their feet. While many soccer fans have been enjoying the thrills and fun from Russia, our own stadium lit up with excitement as our Flying Fijians stormed The Lelos in the second half to stamp their mark and successfully defend our PNC title four-in-a-row.
Perhaps the four-in-a-row win in HK and on the circuit rejuvenated the Flying Fijians, who trailed Georgia 15-10.
I must say that I was impressed with the form shown by our forwards to take The Lelos head on.
The Fijian flair was remarkable and shut out Georgian’s forward dominance. Seniloli, Vatubua and Radradra were a headache to Georgia’s defenders.
The RWC is a year away and McKee has a lot on his plate if Fiji is to qualify from the pool of death.
I congratulate the Flying Fijians for the four-in-a-row PNC win.
Tonga, the Springboks and NZ deserve wins while six Nations champions Ireland punished Australia at home.
As we enjoy moments from Russia, I must admit that the Portugal versus Spain, France versus Australia and the Argentina versus Iceland clashes stood out while Australia and Iceland won hearts.
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM
Nadawa, Nasinu
Carnival clean-up
A BIG thank you to the Lautoka City Council and the people who were cleaning the carnival grounds throughout last week.
I am thankful that you cleaned up the city and the park before people could see all the rubbish left behind by those who have no civic pride.
The people of Lautoka need to see these hardworking people and thank them for keeping our city clean.
I am sure it was a big task to clean everything within a reasonable timeframe.
The CEO, heath department and the cleaners deserve a big thank you.
I live at Drasa Vitogo and would love to invite all the abovementioned for tea someday.
Vinaka team Lautoka City Council.
JOHN BROWN
Drasa Vitogo, Lautoka
Weather radar
IT is both alarming and saddening to note that the Nadi weather radar — a prized gift by the people and Government of Japan, has been shamefully out of service for almost seven months.
Why? Aren’t spare parts readily available?
Where do we really go from here?
Who or what is causing such inexcusable slackness?
Is the Fiji Meteorological Service not getting progressively adequate funding and/or due recognition for national services rendered?
These are some of the few pertinent questions that must be addressed with greater urgency.
RONNIE CHANG
Nadi
All-night party
IT has been a very long time since I heard of an all-nighter drinking party in Waiyavi.
Around 3 or 4am on Saturday, I was woken up by the sound of country music and it was pleasant.
Since that is around the time I usually get up, I went outside to listen.
There was laughter and the sound of beer bottles being opened.
I smiled and went and got ready for a new day.
The party continued until 3pm and it was getting louder.
But I knew there were some happy people celebrating and I wished them well.
You will need a lot of money to be able to party for that long.
I was wondering if someone from overseas came, or someone got a back pay.
It could have been a celebration for a pay rise.
Heck, whatever they do with their money is none of my business, what say?
They are free to do what they want with it.
It’s a free world isn’t it?
ALLEN LOCKINGTON
Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Corporal punishment
IT was with some concern when reading a letter from one of your followers in Saturday’s The Fiji Times advocating the return of corporal punishment in schools and in the homes.
Corporal punishment and torture is still used in some countries where education standards are low and where verbal reasoning is beyond their intelligence.
We know as a fact that education starts in the family home.
If there is good discussion and good principles in the home the children will follow these ideals in their future lives.
If family violence is part of the upbringing in the home then that next generation will follow suit.
If the child is becoming difficult to control, sit them down and ask why. There will always be a reason.
Then talk about it without anger and explain to them why their behaviour is unbecoming.
Work with them to help solve their problems.
Don’t forget to praise them for good behaviour.
Corporal punishment and violence is not the way to solve problems in a country where good education is available to everyone at no cost.
PETER WHYTE
Natadola
Missed conversions
SOME points that no doubt Baber may already have in mind.
Seems like no one has commented on the one reason why we lost in Paris was because of the lack of a good kicker.
Had we converted the two tries at the beginning, we would have been ahead of England by the final whistle.
With the score of 17-19, we definitely needed the four points from the missed conversions. Why don’t we change the kicker, or practise more?
Secondly, from the first two pool games it was obvious we weren’t playing with our usual flair.
The support for the man with the ball seemed either slow or lacking. Our coach has already noted we don’t seem to do well during the second week.
Thirdly, why kick ahead? How often have we succeeded when doing this?
Finally, we were fated to lose. Bad refereeing or not, one can see that from the bounce of the ball!
Hopefully our chances would be better for the Melrose Cup next month. Go Fiji, go!
NORMAN YEE
Mehrotra Place, Martintar, Nadi
Top 3 issues
IT seems that inequality in this country is obvious if we take into account the latest Tebbutt-Times Poll’s revelation that cost of living, unemployment rate, and wages are anything to go by (FT 16/6).
If true, this is profoundly unfair.
It seems incomes are unskewed, savings and growth unbalanced, and opportunities dwindling with high unemployment.
Everyone wants to better themselves.
Unemployment today remains a matter of serious concern.
AMENATAVE YACONISAU
Palm Drive, Delainavesi
Delightful piece
SEONA Smiles’ delightful piece on “Breaching protocols” (FT 17/6) should bring home to the islanders of Bau that the American cowboy culture is now pretty much the norm in the modern nation state of Fiji.
I believe the respectful traditional cultural protocols belong to the past.
RAJEND NAIDU
Sydney, Australia
Qualification
CRISTIANO Ronaldo, who scored three goals for his country Portugal against Spain in the 2018 FIFA World Cup, may have done something honourable but I believe it is a dishonest practice to play for Real Madrid in the La Liga competition in Spain and play for Portugal in the World Cup.
FIFA should make residential qualification laws to this effect.
It also happens in other sports. Maybe the economic questions prevail.
AMENATAVE YACONISAU
Palm Drive, Delainavesi
Care assistance
THE HOMES-CARE and FARMS-CARE will work. Call it what you want, but it will work.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON
Kava Place, Waiyavi, Lautoka
Tax issue
AFTER reading Nigel Fiu’s letter (FT/16/6) regarding retirement package tax issue, I now understand why so many people lineup for government assistance.
I believe the Government tax everything we earn. I remember some time ago when a dead person was taxed before burial (Death tax).
With so many tax and less money for retirement, one has to rely on government assistance. But then again, why does Government tax retirement benefits? I’m sure our government MPs get a lot of tax-free benefits.
Can they share some tax-free benefits with the very people who voted for them?
JOHN BROWN
Drasa Vitongo, Lautoka
Our 15s team
PLENTY of talent and ability, no doubt about that. Maybe we should get an opinion poll done among the players regarding our head coach. Remember David Nucifora and the Brumbies a couple of years ago. Vinaka.
HENRY SAKOPO
Waiyavi, Lautoka
Mine issue
YEARS back, Vatukoula Gold Mines had a strike and I am sure that strike didn’t end until today. Many governments came and many changed but nobody seemed to understand the striking miners’ situation. Felix Anthony is concerned about the mine workers and the death that occurred at the goldmine.
I am of the view that the Government, union and the mine workers can sit down and solve all the problems and maybe, just maybe, end the never ending strike from yesteryear at the same time.
NARAYAN REDDY
Lautoka
Gold medals or points
WHATEVER reasons the World Rugby 7s organisers may have, one thing is certain, its practice to award both medals and points leaves a lot to be desired.
I believe all international sports meet have done away with the points system. Winners are decided on the number of gold medals. But not so for the World Rugby 7s.
Therefore, we have this crazy result. Fiji should be the series winner because they won five gold medals against South Africa’s two gold medals but South Africa is the series winner because they accumulated more points.
If the international norm is followed as used in the Olympic Games, the Commonwealth Games and other meets, Fiji is the series winner because it has won more gold medals than South Africa.
World Rugby must decide what it wants before the new seasons starts.
Either decide its series winners on the number of gold medals or on points alone, not both.
WILLIAM ROSA
Tavua
Third time unlucky
THIS is in reference to Jonas Bradburgh and Naveen Dutt (FT 16/08).
Brothers, the scenario was something like this.
During the inauguration 1999-2000 IRB 7s series, Fiji won five titles — South Africa, Mar del Plata, Wellington, Brisbane and Japan under Veidreyaki and the late Lagiloa. Fiji had to progress beyond the quarters in Paris to win the series title.
Fiji topped the standings (172 points). NZ trailed by 6 points. We met Argentina, lost 35-21 and collected 8 points from the plate win.
NZ collected 20 points to win the first series with 186 points. Fiji finished second with 180 points.
Isa those were the days of Serevi, Fero, Dels, Seta, Naevo, Qauqau, the late Rabeni and Kaumaia, Vunibaka and Tuikabe.
NZ and Fiji had won five tournaments each.
The 2006-07 IRB 7s series brought pain and misery. This time Fiji had won the 2005-06 series under Serevi and Savou. Nanuku, the Volavola brothers, Ryder, Vucago, Nabuliwaqa, Naevo, Tonawai, Rabo and Bolavucu flourished as household names.
Fiji beat England to win our first series title.
Our boys had the chance to make a first back to back series win when it concluded in Scotland.
However, we fell short to Wales 21-14 in the quarters. Fiji managed the plate beating Kenya 31-7 but this was not enough.
We cheered for Samoa hoping for an upset.
However, NZ proved too strong and thrashed Samoa 34-5 to return home with spoils from Scotland.
NZ collected 20 valuable points, the cup title and their 7th series title despite trailing Fiji by 10 points heading to Scotland.
NZ had 110 compared with Fiji’s 120 points and won in South Africa and London while Fiji bagged the San Diego and Adelaide 7s.
NZ finished two points ahead of Fiji.
The morning was bitter knowing that we had surrendered our title to the most consistent and successful team on the circuit.
We all know what happened on the morning of June 11.
With a seven point lead on the WRSS, Fiji had to reach the semis and finish third and our boys would have gifted Baber his first series win.
Once again our boys were third time unlucky, losing to England and the most consistent Blitzbokke tamed the Roses to take home the Paris and WRSS title!
Another round of pain and misery for me, brothers!
RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM
Nadawa, Nasinu
