RUGBY superstar Napolioni Nalaga has shown the way forward for other Fijian rugby players to follow.
The France-based flyer is one of the very few Fijians playing overseas who have wisely invested his money to safeguard his future.
Nalaga now owns three businesses in Fiji which are managed by his parents and loved ones.
In an interview with this newspaper, his dad and former national rep Kavekini Nalaga said the main objective of setting up these businesses was to safeguard his son’s future —— especially life after rugby.
He said he had seen most Fijian players who had misused their money while overseas and by the time they finished rugby they did not have anything for their future.
Kavekini said his son owned a hair salon which is run by his mother, a sound system and lighting for hire company run by his dad and a tour company namely Bright Tours operated by Napolioni’s cousin.
Kavekini said all these businesses were based in Nadroga and funded by his son.
“His (Napolioni) rugby days will end and we need to have some sort of security to safeguard his future,” said Kavekini.
“At the moment he has three businesses which are run and managed by family members.
“The objective of forming these businesses is for Napo to have something to fall back on when he finishes his rugby, mainly to support his family in the future.”
The former Fiji rep who played a crucial role for Fiji’s campaign at the 1987 World Cup said the businesses had also provided employments to their relatives.
“These businesses are not only to safeguard Napo’s future, it also created employment for some of our relatives in the village,” said Kavekini.
“Most importantly we want to educate other Fijian boys playing overseas on how to make a god use of their money.”
He said Nalaga would be opening his fourth business next month.
