World Cup watch

Watch for some growing scrutiny over who got the VIP FIFA-funded Fiji Football Association trips to the World Cup in Russia.

Fiji Football president Rajesh Patel and CEO Mohammed Yusuf obviously were among the chosen ones. No argument on that.

But some close to the game are asking about a couple of local businessmen who might have also gone to Russia courtesy of the world soccer body. A question being asked is if there were indeed more FIFA-funded tickets why didn’t they go to long-serving football people?

Women clash in Bau

Two women were caught on video speaking in iTaukei and exchanging harsh words.

It is believed to have taken place on the eve of the burial of Ratu George Kadavulevu Cakobau’s funeral on Bau Island.

One of them was saying she was disturbed that the other woman was saying bad things about Mataiwelagi.

Mataiwelagi is the name of Ratu Epenisa Cakobau’s residence. Ratu Epenisa and Ratu George were both claimants to Bau’s Vunivalu Title.

She told her that she would not like to see her (the other woman) on Wednesday.

“I’m the boss here and I would not like to see your face on the village ground,” she yelled in iTaukei.

“You just shut up or I’ll throw you into the sea right now.

“You can’t do it,” the other woman replied.

“I’ll be at the village ground.”

The more vocal woman, who banged the eating table with her fist, had to be controlled by people for fear that it would get physical.

Meanwhile, BTL had asked some people in Bau yesterday but they said they were not aware of the incident. According to them, it happened on another side of the island. However, the incident has been trending on social media.

But it seems that all was at peace during the funeral of the Ratu George. Even the weather was fine.

Free riders

Some boat owners in Bau were unlucky to have no business yesterday. It is understood that many passengers opted to wait for the boats paid by Government for transportation to the chiefly island for Ratu George Kadavulevu Cakobau’s funeral and back.

Straight talk

SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka was told by villagers in a Nalawa meeting recently that it was the Bainimarama Government that built the road and the bridge to the village. Before, they used to swim across, during Mr Rabuka’s and Laisenia Qarase’s prime ministership.