Coffa: Sure Gold For Eileen
The Oceania Weightlifting Institute director Paul Coffa strongly believes that weightlifter Eileen Cikamatana will win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
“Cikamatana is happy, relaxed she always has that excitement on her face when lifting those weights in a competition,” he told SUNsports yesterday.
“It is a 100 per cent gold medal for her, no doubt about that, even the Australian lifters will not come close to her. She is something else.”
Coffa also rated Apolonia Vaivai as another gold medal contender.
“It was brave of her to come back to the institute, she is in great shape and it is definitely a gold medal prospect”
Coffa believes the weightlifters from the Oceania Institute will come out victorious on the day.
“They’re looking good, five days of competition everybody wants to win a medal. We have the best lifters from the Oceania region. Realistically I’m happy with the progress of these lifters.”
NETBALL WORRY
The Team Fiji netball side are wary of the tall players in the Jamaican team as they prepare to take them on in the opening game of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Thursday.
Head coach Vicki Wilson told SUNsports yesterday the 196cm tall Jamaican goalshooters have been their concern after their earlier clash in New Zealand last month.
“They are very, very tall shooters and will be very hard to contain,” Wilson said.
“Looking at all the netball teams in the competition, our team are the smallest in size.”
The Fijians are impressed with the atmosphere at the Games village so far.
“The facilities at the village are amazing, we are enjoying it. We are training every day since the day we arrived here.
“Even the competition venue is incredible, it’s amazing how these officials have made the spectator seating come closer to the court.
“Jamaica are ranked fourth in the world but all the bigger teams in the competition, will play to win the gold but we will try our best.”
Wilson added that the rebounding area is one they have been working hard on.
The Fijians face Australia, Jamaica, South Africa, Barbados and Northern Ireland in their pool games.
In an earlier interview captain Lusiana Rokoura said playing in the Commonwealth Games is a good build up to the Oceania Championships which double as the 2019 World Netball Championship qualifiers.
The 21st edition of the Commonwealth Games opens tomorrow.
Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
Feedback: anasilinir@fijisun.com.fj
