Koli Sewabu, who starts a three year consultancy contract as International Partnership Officer for Oceania Rugby next month is a sterling example of how locals can move up the ranks and be competitive at international level.

The Navuso man from Naitasiri is the first Fijian to hold the post and he will be based in Sydney, Australia.

The rugby fanatic, who is a colourful former national rep and provincial coach, will work with Rugby Australia (RA) on all PacificAus Sports Programmes (rugby) and Sport for Development programmes to the Pacific, which includes Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and the rest of the Oceania member unions.

The former Ratu Kadavulevu School student is by profession a rugby educator who in the last three years has been Fiji Rugby Union’s (FRU) national development manager starting from grassroots level.

Rugby union is our national sport since it was introduced in the 1880s.

Our small island nation has pencilled itself among great rugby nations and those at the top in sevens.

At the naming of an expatriate to coach a national side – while FRU justifies their selection a good number of locals often feel otherwise.

Our coaches can take cue from Sewabu; with his rugby experience and knowledge he upgrades his academic qualification to complement his God given talents.

Sewabu has a Diploma in Travel and Tourism, Bachelor in Sport and Exercise, and holds an Executive Masters in Business Administration from the Massey University, New Zealand.

He is currently pursuing his Post Graduate qualification in International Sports Management studying online at the University of London.

He recently was shortlisted for the Fijian Drua Chief Executive Officer position, but was not considered and was in the run for the Fiji National Sports Commission CEO position when the Oceania Rugby offer came.

With international rugby coaching and academic qualifications Sewabu believes that FRU should have good succession plans to encourage Fijians to take up national coaching and management positions.

An opportunity for FRU to consider a few local coaches with International Rugby accreditations coupled with academic qualification as understudy now.

Good planning and management should also be way forward at 35 Gordon Street if they don’t want to be caught sweeping opportunities under the carpet.

 
Feedback: karalaini.waqanidrola@fijisun.com.fj