Serevi visits boost Bati

Serevi visits Bati camp

Indra Singh
www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, October 21, 2009

+ Enlarge this image

The Bati before heading to PNG

FORMER Fiji rugby sevens coach Waisale Serevi was to have visited the Vodafone Fiji Bati last night in Papua New Guinea.

Serevi is the national sevens coaching director of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Union.

Bati media manager Rajesh Singh said Serevi's visit was one where the former sevens maestro would give a pep talk to the warriors of league.

"We are honoured to have Serevi here as he is a great sports person," Singh said.

The team had two training sessions yesterday and the coaching staff was to have named their 18-member playing squad last night. Singh said all players were fit and raring to go and the competition was tough amongst players.

"The training session have been going great," Singh said.

Fiji will play the Cook Islands in its opening match at 5pm (Fiji time) on Saturday.

Following their upset 22-20 victory over Samoa the Cook Islands will face Fiji in the first match of the tournament before host nation PNG take on Tonga on Sunday

The following Saturday, will see a third/fourth playoff match before the final is played on Sunday, November 1 to determine the inaugural SP Brewery Pacific Cup champions and the fourth nation of the 2010 Four Nations.

Celtic Crusaders forward Jason Chan has been named in the PNG 20-man squad for the tourney.

Salford winger John Wilshire, Sheffield Eagles' centre Menzie Yere and Hunslet hooker Charlie Wabo will join him in the squad.

Chan, who will return to training with the Crusaders in late November, is the only non-Welsh Crusader involved in international rugby league this autumn with the possibility of 12 of his team-mates starring for Wales this autumn.

"I've been in camp for a bit over two and a half weeks," Chan said.

"The training is really tough and it makes it harder in the heat and high humidity, it's nearly 30-35 degrees every day.

"I love being back in PNG. The support here is massive. Rugby league is its national sport so they really support us here and look after us so well. It's also good to get to catch up with a lot of family and see some of the beautiful areas of my home country."

One week for FRU board

Indra Singh
www.fijitimes.com - Wednesday, October 21, 2009

+ Enlarge this image

Ravai Fatiaki flicks out a pass during the Fiji rugby fitness test in at Bidesi Park in Suva yesterday.

FIJI Rugby Union president Ro Filipe Tuisawau has given his board until the end of the week to change its mind before formally asking for the Prime Minister's office to intervene.

Tuisawau wants acting chief executive Keni Dakuidreketi, who is facing corruption charges, removed from office.

The Rewa chief has hit out at the board for refusing to accept the resignation of Daku-idreketi.

Tuisawau has been a vocal critic of Dakuidreketi since earlier this year.

"I understand that the board will meet again this week and I am hopeful that they will reconsider Keni's case given the concerns," Tuisawau said.

"Failing that I will formally ask the Prime Ministers office to intervene.

"After that, I will envisage a joint meeting with the board, convened by the Government to agree on a way forward.

" I am sure that the outcome will be positive for all. We will then progress from there."

Dakuidreketi refused to be drawn into the debate but said Tuisawau should follow the right channel.

"It is obvious from the start that Ro Filipe does not want me here and wants me removed," Dakuidreketi said.

"He must have his reasons but if he has some issues, than he should come to the board and talk about the issues at hand."

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has also called for the resignation of Dakuidreketi, who faces charges lodged by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption.

Dakuidreketi said he was upset by calls for his resignation.

"I'm saddened that I've been found guilty by the highest law of the land even before the trial," he said.

It is still unclear if Dakuidreketi will travel on the end-of-the-year tour.

Fiji Suspended From 2010 Commonwealth Games

NEW DELHI--The Commonwealth Games Federation on Monday suspended Fiji's membership, ruling it out of the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be staged in New Delhi. Consequent to Fiji's suspension from the Commonwealth, it's membership of the Commonwealth Games Federation has also been suspended," CGF president Michael Fennell said after the CGF general assembly in New Delhi.

The Commonwealth suspended Fiji last month after it failed to meet certain conditions of membership, including holding early democratic elections.

Fennell said the CGF would make a representation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting that sport not be included in the sanctions imposed on Fiji.

"Among the CGF members, there's great sympathy for the plight of Fijian athletes who are aspiring to compete in New Delhi," said Fennell.

"Sport and sporting events should be exempted from political suspension," he said.

Fennell said the CGF would approach the Commonwealth Secretary-General with a recommendation "that sport be removed from the sanction imposed upon a nation suspended from the Commonwealth."

Fennell said such an exemption could provide Fiji's athletes an opportunity to participate in the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which are scheduled for Oct. 3-14.

The Commonwealth Games feature 71 nations and territories that were linked to the former British Empire.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.

IOC welcomes new sport - Golf & Rugby 7s

IOC welcomes new sport

www.fijitimes.com - Sunday, October 11, 2009

COPENHAGEN, AAP - Golf and rugby union sevens will be included as sports at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced.

IOC members rubber-stamped the two sports at a congress here after the executive board had voted to include them at a meeting in August.

Rugby sevens received 81 votes for and eight against with one abstention, while golf had 63 for and 27 against with two members abstaining.

The two sports will be included in the programme for the 2016 Rio Games, bringing the number of sports there to the IOC's stated maximum of 28.

Rugby sevens will see 12 teams each in men's and women's competition, with the sport's governing body the IRB having pledged to end its showpiece World Cup Sevens tournament.

The International Golf Federation has promised that the world's best will take part in Olympic golf, which will see 60 players in both the men and women's competitions facing off over 72 holes.

"We are elated that the IOC membership has accepted golf as an Olympic sport, and look forward to seeing the world's best golfers compete for gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro," said Ty Votaw, executive director of the IGF's Olympic Golf Committee, which has coordinated golf's Olympic bid. "We have received unprecedented support from international golf organisations throughout this process, as well as from the world's top-ranked men and women players."

Fiji High Hopes for 2016 Olympic 7s

Olympic 7s

Emoni Narawa
www.fijitimes.com - Sunday, October 11, 2009

+ Enlarge this image

Pushover ... Emosi Vucago helps Asaeli Boko over the line to wrest the Farebrother Cup from Naitasiri at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori yesterday.

FLEET-footed Emosi Vucago wants to play for the national sevens team until the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio De Janerio, Brazil.

The sevens co-captain, who led Nadroga to the 31-6 victory that dethroned Naitasiri as Farebrother Cup champion yesterday, said his dream was to be part of the team with Fiji's best chance to win an Olympic gold medal.

This is after rugby sevens and golf were included in the 2016 Olympic Games.

"I think this is a huge chance for us to win our first medal in the Olympics Games. Of course, I want to be part of that team."

Vucago, who played a pivotal role for the Stallions at Ratu Cakobau Park and was named man-of-the-match, said he would train hard to make the 2016 team.

National sevens coach Iliesa Tanivula echoed the same sentiments, saying the International Olympic Committee's approval would inspire rugby players.

"I believe this is good news for rugby sevens. It's a huge opportunity for us to win our first Olympic gold medal," said Tanivula, who indicated his interest to coach the side in 2016.

Vijay Singh to lead Fiji in 2016 Olympic Golf

Vijay to lead Fiji

www.fijitimes.com - Sunday, October 11, 2009

+ Enlarge this image

Vijay Singh

FIJI's top golfer Vijay Singh is expected to lead the national team in the 2016 Olympic Games.

This after the Interna-tional Olympic Committ-ee yesterday confirmed golf and rugby sevens to be the included as the new participating sports in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in seven years time.

National Golf Associa-tion secretary Mosese Waqavonovono believes the decision of IOC to include golf has given Fiji a chance to win its first-ever Olympic medal.

"It's a major breakthrough for us. We always wanted to be part of Oly-mpics and here we are," he said.

"For us as a sport in Fiji, the inclusion of golf provides an opportunity to get medal in the Olympic Games."

Waqavonovono said Si-ngh has shown interest in representing the country at the 2016 Olympic Ga-mes.

"In our discussion earlier, he has indicated his interest to be part of the national team to participate in the Olympics."

Singh will not have to go through the elimination round because of his current ranking.

The former world number one, who will turn 53 by 2016, is ranked amon-gst the world's top 15 golfers.

"So all we have to do is to select another two players to join him," Wa-qavonovono said.

"We already have gol-fers in Australia, New Zealand and America undergoing training and they will be available alongside the locals."

"We also have a good crop of young golfers."

Fiji Bati AIms High

Bati aim at top 4

Emoni Narawa
www.fijitimes.com - Friday, October 09, 2009

+ Enlarge this image

Kevin Naiqama leads the Fiji Bati back to the team's hotel following the tsunami warning yesterday.

The Vodafone Fiji Bati Rugby League team is training to create another piece of history by playing against rugby league heavyweights next year.

The Bati, under the watchful eyes of Terry Gilogley, has set its objectives to play against New Zealand, Australia and England in the Four Nations championship.

However, the main challenge is to win the Pacific Cup at the end of the month.

Team manager Mesake Navugona is optimistic the Bati can reach new heights with the preparation over the past four days.

Fiji reached the semi-finals of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia.

"Nothing is impossible. If the Fiji rugby union team qualified for the RWC quarter-final nothing is hard," Navugona said.

"Our goal is to create history and play in the four nation championship."

Fiji, together with Papua New Guinea, and Tonga, plus the winner between Samoa and the Cook Islands, will fight for a spot in next year's four nations.

Navugona said they had selected the best players to create another history

"The boys are well at training and we've notch our preparation up to another level, especially our spiritual upbringing," he said.

He said team bonding was an important link in the team.

"The boys are really picking up and together we're working as a unit," Navugona said.

"The Australian boys have blended in well and we're hoping for a good outing in PNG." Navugona said the pride of the vanua was always at stake for each player in every Test matches for the Bati.

"Noqu Kalou, Noqu Vanua (My God, My Country) is always at our heart," he added.

England-based Mike Ratu boosted the players' morale after arriving on Tuesday night.

•