Hurdles Surface As Naitasiri Rugby Hunts For Winning Ways

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Monday 19 March 2018 | 01:58

Naitasiri fly half Etonia Rokotuisawa kicking a penalty during the Skipper Cup match between Naitasiri and Suva on June 3, 2017.Photo:Vilimoni Vaganalau.

Naitasiri fly half Etonia Rokotuisawa kicking a penalty during the Skipper Cup match between Naitasiri and Suva on June 3, 2017.Photo:Vilimoni Vaganalau.

Everyone wants to be associated with a winning team.

It is part of human nature. Even corporate companies today want to be part of a winning team or brand.

This is because they’ll get the mileage they’re after and it compensates the amount of financial support they have invested.

But it’s a different story when it comes to turning a losing team into a winning one.

It’s not easy because there are differences in opinions over strategies that are to be adopted in order to produce the desired results.

This is the situation currently faced by newly appointed Naitasiri Rugby Union chairman Aseri Radrodro.

In his mission to turn Naitasiri’s rugby misfortunes around after six winless years, has faced a setback when head coach Koli Sewabu and secretary, Nimilote Naisorotabua tendered in their resignation last Friday night.

Mr Sewabu, who only took up the head coach’s job last year after a successful stint in New Zealand, may have got his strategies in place on how to produce a winning team.

He may have laid the ground work last year and was going to better it this year.

Similarly, Mr Radrodro may have got his own way of doing things to get the same result they’re after.

So in reality, there’s no one at fault.

It’s only a matter of difference in opinions and this could best resolved, if Mr Radrodro and Mr Sewabu could sit together and settle their differences.

Dialogue is the best option for them to take as they both have Naitasiri rugby at heart.

In a positive note, Mr Radrodro has told this newspaper that he is going to call Mr Sewabu to sit with him and discuss the matter further.

The quicker they resolve the issue, the better it is for Naitasiri rugby, especially when the 2018 Skipper Cup competition is just around the corner.

Naitasiri is a proud rugby province.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, during their reign as the country’s provincial rugby champions, they were always followed by their thousands of their diehard fans to every venue in the country they play in.

Although they were not bigger in size they made up for it with their gutsy play, speed and bone-crushing tackles that made them become the most feared team in the country.

This province has produced many rugby stars like the legendary Ratu Ilaitia Tuisese, Antonio Racika, Nasoni Uluvula, Rusiate Namoro, Mitieli Kaicina, Jone Kubu, Nasoni Latidreketi, Mesake Rasari, Waisake Tuisese, Akuila Tuinasau, Rokini Kiliraki, Sewabu, Sailosi Naiteqe, Luca Goneqali and the list goes on.

Other players like Virimi Vakatawa and Noa Nakaitaci have gone on to play for France.

Naitasiri have the potential to bounce back to the top. If they focus on the vision of the province, they will achieve their goal.

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