Fijiana Sevens Aim For Medal: Fuli
We did it; we will do it again at the Commonwealth Games.
Saturday 09 July 2022 | 14:44
Fijiana 7s players, from left: Adi Vani Buleki, Laisana Moceisawana, Ivamere Nabura and Ani May after a training session at Albert Park, Suva, on July 6, 2022. Photo: Simione Haravanua.
We did it; we will do it again at the Commonwealth Games.
These are the comments of Fiji Airways Fijiana rugby sevens head coach Saisi Fuli.
Fuli made the comments on Thursday in Suva after he released the names of the women gladiators for Birmingham next month.
He said the new players selected are ready.
“There will be questions in selecting the players who are new to rugby but it’s the same thing that happened in the Olympics when I selected players like Reapi Uluinasau, Sesenieli Donu who they had no idea about rugby,” Fuli said.
“It comes down to preparation and commitment plus the hard work done by our management to develop them in a short space of time,” he said.
“That is the same procedure that we are using to develop the new players that just came in.
“Some were just burning the tracks a few years ago like Laisani Moceisawana. Ani Mei was running with Jasper Williams High School in 2020. They have committed themselves in the past two years.
“They are ready; they have had some exposure at international level. They’ve learnt and developed they are now ready for the Commonwealth Games.”
Fuli added that his side has set their goals for the Games.
“This happens every four years and the last one was in 2018. These players have set their dream and we have had to select the best players available,” he said.
“Our goal for the Games is to win a medal, it comes down to the preparations that we have done the past few months as a team.
“We have set our objectives and set our small targets; the whole objective is to get a medal.
“Confidence comes after exposing the players at competitive tournaments like the Oceania.
“Oceania is much tougher than the series because we are playing against Australia and New Zealand.
“Three rounds in a three days tournament, what better place is there to expose our players than the Oceania 7s.
“Playing against NZ and Australia was the best platform to select the final team for the Games.
Feedback: simione.haravanua@fijisun.com.fj
