'Editorial': Tough roadfor Kolinisau, but it is not an impossible journey to the Olympics

This time, Kolinisau's assignment will be head coach for the Paris Olympic Games, which is from July 26 to August 11.

Monday 11 March 2024 | 09:50

Olympic Gold medallist and Fiji Airways 7s coach, Osea Kolinisau.

Olympic Gold medallist and Fiji Airways 7s coach, Osea Kolinisau.

A huge load is on newly-appointed Fiji Airways Fiji men's rugby sevens head coach, Osea Kolinisau.

With less than four months away from the Paris Olympic Games in France, the hopes of the nation is on Kolinisau to produce a team that could win us our third gold medal at the Olympics. We've been winless in the past 19 tournaments in the HSBC SVNS Series, which leads to the Olympic Games.

Going to such high-level competition, is nothing new to the 38-year-old, who captained our side to win the country's first Olympic Games gold medal in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This time, Kolinisau's assignment will be head coach for the Paris Olympic Games, which is from July 26 to August 11.

Despite of time not being on our side, the mission to win gold for the third time at the Olympic Games is not an impossible one.

We were once in a similar situation in 2005, when Flying Fijians head coach Wayne Pivac, in the eleventh hour, was given the task to coach our national sevens rugby team to the World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong.

Olympic Gold medallist and Fiji Airways 7s coach, Osea Kolinisau.

Olympic Gold medallist and Fiji Airways 7s coach, Osea Kolinisau.

They closely managed it and worked wonders when the Serevi captained-side went on to win the World Cup Sevens title for the second time.

This is something for Kolinisau to learn from and select the people he trusts to be part of his think tank team. This is where they plan on the type of game they want to execute at the Olympic Games and also the type of players they need to be part of the squad.

The remaining HSBC SVNS Series tournaments in Hong Kong (April 5-7) and Singapore (May 3-5) is critical where they monitor the team's performance and have a fair idea of what they need to work on before going to Paris.

With the God fearing Kolinisa u at the helm, nothing is impossible provided things are planned out at well and the welfare of those involved are well looked after.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj