For the passion and love for rugby league Fiji Bati head coach Joe Rabele has been allocating a portion of his wages to assist the Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) High Performance Unit (HPU) players with lunch and other needs.

Rabele has taken the first step in accommodating more than 50 players including a good number of females.

“I want to thank the Fiji Sports Commission for acknowledging local coaches like me, Saiasi Fuli and Senirusi Seruvakula.”

“As contracted coaches we are being paid by overseas funds through the Fiji Sports Commission,” Rabele said yesterday.

“I came through the system and I know how hard it is to attend training every day.”

“I have put aside a part of my wages to buy lunch and other things aspiring players need,” he said.

“Buying their lunch and other little things is the least I can do. I buy bread, tuna, eggs, Lunch bananas and tang juice for their lunch.”

Ground fees are $75per day.

Rabele has been providing lunch the last four months.

“We don’t know the players’ back ground or their livelihood so doing little things like this boost and encourage them to work hard to achieve their goals.”

“The biggest reward is seeing local players making it big overseas.”

“Sports is my passion, the most rewarding thing is when a player gets a contract- they automatically graduate from the life of struggles to a good life.”

Meanwhile, the HPU is grateful that FMF has come on board – once the formalities are finalised then Rabele will stop spending his money on lunches.

The last four months Rabele has been going to the University of the South Pacific ground every morning to brief coaches and helpers on the day’s programme.

Noting attendance he heads off to buy the items for lunch which he takes to the FRNL headquarters to prepare.

“A few years ago young Marika Koroibete went through the same system and today he is a world class player.”

“We want to do the same thing to these players; hopefully we will see more Koroibete and Suli Vunivalu.”

“I want to thank Wise Kativerata for his continuous support and contribution in the selection of secondary school players to be part of this NRL programme.

“This year we’ve had three secondary school players signing up with the Queensland Cowboys, two players from Nasinu Secondary and a player from Queen Victoria School.”

“Hopefully we get more school boys on the journey.”