Fitness levels of players a concern
I AM certain that a lot of fans will jump ship again and blast the new national 7s head coach Osea Kolinisau after Fiji’s quarter-final loss to New Zealand in Hong Kong. While there was a clear improvement in the performance of the squad, there is still a lot of work left to bring out the best from this set of players. I ask the fans to be patient with Kolinisau as we go through this transition phase. Other than the off-field issues, I am most concerned with the fitness levels of players. It is as obvious as crystal that the team is struggling heavily in that aspect, with sluggish running style, tackling style and just the overall body language. We trusted “Oscar” to lead us into our first Olympic gold medal, now we should trust him again to bring home the lost glory. RAYNAV CHAND, Nakasi
Final test
FIJI 7s fans are disappointed that we missed out on the Hong Kong title and our 7s title drought continues. In my opinion, we have a good team and the plan to control the tempo of the game is working, but the ball needs to stick when they offload. Our new 7s team picked by our new 7s coach had not played together as a team against any formidable opposition and Hong Kong 7s was their first test. The Singapore 7s next month will be a final test for our Fiji 7s team. If they break our long drought and win their first gold we can finally have that assurance that our boys are on track. Go Fiji, go. SAVENACA VAKALIWALIWA Kattar Singh Rd, Tacirua, Nasinu
Sharpen discipline
IT is definitely clearer now that luck has again evaded our national 7s team for the 20th tournament. Our boys need to sharpen up on discipline. We cannot resort to “show off” 50/50 passes under all circumstances. “Fancy stuff” gains zero points. Losing vital possession translates immediately to giving vital possession to the opposition. Without the ball, we will not score. I pray we do better in Singapore come May 3-5. I wish new coach Kolinisau a better outing then. Tovolea tale Viti. RONNIE CHANG Martintar Nadi
Pays off for NZ
SO after all, it paid dividends a few weeks later at the Hong Kong 7s 2024. The decision by New Zealand to send a strong side to the Marist 7s tournament in Suva. In playing against top local teams, New Zealand got to better understand how to defeat a Fijian side both mentally and physically. We jumped for joy when our local sides defeated a powerful New Zealand side in Suva, but were on the opposite end in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, sporting fans will also be asking some serious questions about our women’s team as they appeared easily intimidated and lacked confidence. All in all, our sides deserved continued support, but for now our coaches and players will be doing some in depth soul searching as the journey to the Olympics draws closer. FLOYD ROBINSON Micronesia
Last laugh
BEN Gollings must have been smirking all weekend. WISE MUAVONO Hedstrom Pl, Balawa, Lautoka
Back to the board
IT’S back to that famous drawing board after Fiji’s early and humiliating exit from the 2024 Hong Kong 7s. A Mickey mouse performance indeed! Will Osea Kolinisau, who was penciled in overnight to succeed Ben Gollings without a formal recruitment exercise, face the chopping block? Will a new coach be appointed? With the Olympics just around the corner, Kolinisau’s predecessor must inevitably be having the final laugh after Fiji’s 20th straight defeat. On a different note, in his letter titled “God and Country”, (FT 7/04), can Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa enlighten the public as to when Fiji was declared a Christian State?. The last time I checked, we were still very much a secular nation. Or did I not get the memo? Propelling for a Christian State should be the least of our priorities. With 75 per cent of the iTaukei population living below the poverty curve and with our prisons filled with inmates belonging to the Christian faith, I suggest we prioritise focusing on these prime underlying concerns first. Fiji is a secular nation and a secular nation it should remain. NISHANT SINGH Lautoka
Lesson for Fiji
IT was great to see our boys play in Hong Kong. A lesson for the coach and players to do the execution and then create hype in the media. It seems while offloading those passes we were chucking the oval ball in blind spots thinking we were creating the “Fijian magic’” which didn’t transpire. Wake up Fiji Rugby/coaching panel. RAHUL KRISHNA Auckland, New Zealand
Another loss
YET another 7s tournament loss. The boys tried their best with a new coach. Does this prove the point that God is not on our side anymore? Who would dare to go and ask him why? MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF NATABUA, LAUTOKA
Missing link
IT seems that there is an absence of line breakers in the national 7s rugby team. Coach Oscar might need to rope in at least two robust, mobile, coordinated and powerful forwards in the national 7s rugby team who have the capacity not only to be line breakers, but team players. All the best Fiji sevens team! AREKI DAWAI MAHARAJ PL, SAMABULA, SUVA
Losing streak
JUST when we thought our 20-tournament winless run was coming to an end hearts were broken as the All Blacks 7s came from 7-12 down to secure an emotional and epic win against Fiji. So Kon Po is special, and it hurt many that Fiji did not produce enough firepower to win there. After watching the three-day tournament, I urge the team management to work on the fitness levels of our players. We conceded defeats in matches that we had in the bag. I also suggest FRU to get a skills coach who can address aimless passing, knock-ons, forward passes, kickoffs, ball retention, and the ability to handle pressure. Individual errors let us down badly. We need our boys to be aggressive and show the desire and hunger to win tournaments. This link is missing. One must see the Ireland men’s team’s passion, spirit, and character. Selectors, we badly need speed in our team. Finally, we must get rid of those elements who were with Ben Gollings. Let Osea Kolinisau choose his trainer, advisor, and manager. I was shocked to see Viliame Satala with the team. I thought he had gone when Ben Gollings contract was terminated. The Olympics is coming up. I’m optimistic Gareth Baber and Kolinisau will turn things around. Toso Viti! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM BALGOVIND RD, NADAWA, NASINU
Drua discipline
POOR player discipline resulted in the 41-20 loss to the Rebels at the AAMI Park in Melbourne. In a game of two halves, which was marred by a yellow and two red cards, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua dominated the first half, and spurred by Fijians residing overseas, produced some exciting and brilliant rugby touches. However, the second half belonged to the Rebels who used our discipline to turn the game around. I urge the team management to come hard on players who continuously commit cynical fouls and out the team under pressure. The actions of two of our players have been condemned by rugby pundits. On the other hand, Frank Lomani was verbally assaulted by a fan. That was sad. Putting Friday’s disappointment aside, it is important that our boys prepare themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually to face the mighty and explosive Hurricanes which are unbeaten and enjoy the top position. The battle will be tough, as the ‘Canes are frontrunners for this year’s Super Rugby Pacific title alongside the Chiefs and Blues from NZ! As I conclude my thought, I congratulate the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua for securing a home semi-final. RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Balgovind Rd, Nadawa, Nasinu
Israel’s situation
WE have to understand that B.Netanyahu, PM of Israel, understands Israel’s predicament better than any of us. His brother Yonatan was killed while trying to rescue Israeli hostages at Entebbe Airport in Uganda. He also understands Iran’s threat with possibility of a dirty nuclear bomb on it’s ICBM’s. Mr B Netanyahu is also aware of Iran’s threat of ‘Qayamat’ (Judgement Day/the end of the world). Although not admitted, Mr B Netanyahu knows that Israel’s nuclear bombs are keeping its enemies at bay. He also knows that if Israel is annihilated, so will be the whole of the Middle East. It is for the above reasons that other Islamic countries in Middle East are quiet. Pakistan used to make nuclear threats to India and the weak Congress Party Government would try to appease Pakistan. Terrorism flourished sponsored by Pakistan. In 2014, as soon as Pakistan made the nuclear threat, PM Narendra Modi sent a message through a rally that India was not keeping nuclear bombs to celebrate Diwali. Pakistan’s knees jerked and from then on it never could recover its wits. Modi had called its bluff. Let this be played out. It is believed that Russia, China and Iran initiated this war to engage US and its allies as US and its allies had engaged Russia with Ukraine. RAKESH CHAND SHARMA Nadi
Mental toughness
DOES the Fiji Drua coaching panel have a person dedicated to preparing the team mentally? The importance of mental preparedness in sports cannot be overstated, especially in high-pressure professional competitions. The recent match against the Rebels highlighted a concerning issue regarding the players’ composure under pressure. It became evident that certain players struggled to maintain their cool and control their emotions, particularly when the game wasn’t going in their favour. A sports psychologist or dedicated mental coach will be of great assistance to the players in such circumstances. These experts specialise in methods that improve emotional control, mental toughness, and concentration—all essential for achieving the best performance on the field. If the coaching panel does not have one, would be worthwhile for the Fiji Drua to consider integrating a specialised mental coach into their training program to ensure that the team is mentally prepared to face any challenge on the field. SANJEET PRASAD Mani Rd, Bulileka, Labasa
Hunt for chairman
RECENTLY the Government announced that a new minimum wage rate will be announced in the next budget. With this definitive announcement, the people would have assumed the new rate has already been worked out. However, a report in The Fiji Times (7/4) says the Government is still hunting for a chairman of the wages councils and even inviting expressions of interest for this position. What if a suitable chairman is not found before the budget? BHARAT MORRIS Gold Coast, Australia
Fiji history
READING the history of Fiji and its tragic stories will surely give readers goosebumps. Special thanks to John Kamea for capturing Viliame Qelo’s heartbreaking story of losing his parents at sea and being rescued three and a half days later. A lot of emotions were expressed in this article. As always, I will surely read it to my class on Monday (today). Keep writing! RODNEY CLARENCE RAJ Naleba, Labasa
Red cards
ON Friday night, the two straight red cards were like the two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Only on this occasion, they were actually human brain explosions which stunned a rugby mad Fijian Drua nation into silence. Why the foolishness? MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
Really good
DURING the Lautoka Zone meet, school students entertained spectators. I saw boys and girls from different schools dancing joyfully together. These students had a classic performance. You have to be really good to do that. NAVNEET RAM (TD) LAUTOKA
2013 Constitution
FORMER Reserve Bank of Fiji governor and Unity Fiji party leader Savenaca Narube says his party is moving towards challenging and removing the 2013 Constitution in a court of law ( FT 6/4 ). It is indeed common knowledge that the 2013 Constitution was not passed by any Parliament. It was imposed on the people of Fiji by the post coup military dictatorship. What I can’t understand is why should it take 18 months to make the legal challenge? The way I see it is that a constitutional legal expert should be engaged to do the needful and let the court make the relevant determination. All else is unnecessary. RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, NSW, Australia
