Adi Cakobau Athletes Shift Focus

Adi Cakobau School athletes have shifted their focus on mental preparation for the Coca Cola Games which starts on Thursday.

Defending champions coach An­tonio Raboiliku said they are fine tuning some areas before they take on the tracks at the HFC Bank Sta­dium.

ACS is the defending girls division champion while Ratu Kadavulevu School is the reigning champion for the boys division.

“We’re on the final stages, onto the mental preparation now,” Raboiliku said.

“Just psyching up making sure the athletes are all ready on the platform.

“We know the amount of pressure that is coming to us, because of the last two years of no competition. Now that Cokes is back we are the defending champions.

“Looking at the zones that have been completed, it’s going to be tough.”

Raboiliku added the Sawani girls are reminded to enjoy their partici­pation on the day.

“The athletes do not only repre­sent themselves but their families, sisters in school, old girls includ­ing the vanua of Vuna.

“We encourage them to be at their best on the day and enjoy whatever they come across.

“We coach the athletes in such a way that they look forward on the day of competition and not the his­tory of it.

“If they want to make history then can write it themselves, they do not have to depend on the re­sults of the last games,” Raboiliku said.

The games will test sub junior and junior grades who will be par­ticipating for the first time.

“We hope they will deliver come the day.

“In the senior grade we still have athletes that took part in the last Coca-Cola Games, we still have about two grades that were part of the last winning team.

“Our focus right now is to see whether our sub junior and junior grades will step up.

“But then we pray and hope for the best, everyone is training and praying hard.”

The three-day competition will see the participation of 137 schools and close to 3000 athletes.

Meanwhile, the Maritime Zone meet will be held today at the HFC Bank Stadium.

Adi Maopa Secondary School from Vanuabalavu is expected to arrive today and straight to the competition.

Other schools are Cicia Second­ary School, Gau Secondary School, Koro High School and Ratu Finau Secondary School.

Grandstand tickets are on sale at the Athletics Fiji head office at McGregor Road; $45 for the three days or purchase embankment tickets for $12 and ground for $10.

Embankment and ground tickets will also be sold at the gates on the day of the Games.

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