Digicel Fiji 7s team captain Nemani Nagusa is flanked by fans at the Nadi International Airport yesterday. Photo: WAISEA NASOKIA

By WAISEA NASOKIA

Digicel Fiji 7s captain Nemani Nagusa says critics helped him to be a better player in the HSBC Sevens World Series.
The 24-years-old made the comment after the team returned home after the Hong Kong-Tokyo leg of the IRB Series. Fiji defended their title in Hong Kong but lost in the Plate-semifinal to USA in Tokyo.
“I thank all of the critics as they motivated me,” Nagusa said.
“It was a challenge for me to actually go and try achieve something and those critics motivate me to be a better person and a leader.
“It feels great to lead a team.”
He says it was not easy at the start but he went through the pain earlier and gained a lot as a man.
“You just have to get the right attitude, be a man and face it,” Nagusa said.
Nagusa said motivation played an important role in the team success in Hong Kong.
“The young players were motivated and that’s why the team performed to expectation.
“In Japan many of us were injured and we were really disappointed with our performance. But that how it goes sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.”
Nagusa says he’s prepared to lead the team again if selected.