The Fiji Water Flying Fijians arrived on Vanu Levu yesterday morning, drawing lots of attention from fans in Bua, Dreketi, Savusavu, Buca Bay and Taveuni.
Excitement surrounded Nukubalavu Village in Savusavu as the players, most known to villagers as the ‘Drua team’, arrived for a traditional welcome.
Among the players was a son of Nukubalavu, Frank Lomani whose mum Losana Vula, greeted the players as they walked onto the village lawn. Frank’s older brother, Ricoh Raturaciri, described the day as the best in their lives.
“We will never forget this today because the whole team of the Flying Fijians came to our village and we were all excited about it,” he said.
“This is the first time for the team including coaching staff to visit Nukubalavu and we’re with them all the way.
“Our children were the most excited because for then it was like the Drua team walking into the village.”
Raturaciri said no villager wanted to stay home when the players arrived.
“Everyone got out of their houses and packed the village hall to wait for the players,” he said.
“Even the older group could not go in because there was no space and we are just happy that they chose to stop over in the village.”
At Natuvu jetty in Buca Bay, some fans from surrounding villages walked to the jetty to meet the players while some admired them from afar.
The players also spent 10 minutes at the famous stopover Dreketi Market for some roti and fish parcels, much to the delight of vendors.
They were hosted to lunch at Lewas Loft in Savusavu before travelling to the jetty. The team is at Welagi Village on Taveuni for the weeklong training session which starts tomorrow (Monday).
Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui said the purpose of going out of the norm was to touch base and reconnect with ordinary Fijians on the street and in the villages.
“It’s Fiji but it’s away, and we really get to connect with who we are and what we’re doing,” Raiwalui said earlier this week.
“We haven’t travelled as a team, we’ve traditionally been based in Suva or in the West. I think it’s time we took our Fiji Water Flying Fijians out to the islands, the people and make sure we connect.”
The side travels to Somosomo Village on Taveuni today for 9am church service.
The side will hold 3pm training sessions at Welagi Village ground on Monday and Holy Cross Secondary School on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the squad will visit Waitabu Village — the home of Fijian Drua centre Iosefo Masi — and the Bouma waterfall.
The side is back at Holy Cross Secondary School ground on Thursday before a final meet and greet with villagers on Friday.
