From Football to Skipper

Being born and bred in Ba, Sailasa Naicegu did not dream of playing in the Skipper Cup competition one day.

The 22-year-old played football since his primary and high school days while growing up in Badrau. He joined the Tavua and Ba district teams after leaving high school.

He was part of the Ba football side which won the Futsal Inter-district Championship (IDC) in November last year.

Switching from football to rugby was not easy for the Vinod Patel Ba rugby fullback, however he took up the challenge and is now a crucial member of the side in the Skipper Cup competition.

Naicegu, who is the cousin of former Ba football rep Simione Nabenu hails from Naloto, Verata, Tailevu and shares maternal links to Nayavu, Wainibuka, also in Tailevu.

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“I also played club rugby in Ba since I switched totally to rugby this year. I have been playing both codes so far. I thank the Ba coaching staff for seeing my potential and trusting me to play rugby for Ba.

“I’m loving the experience, I know this is another opportunity to showcase my talent.

“Growing up I only watched Skipper Cup competition and never imagined that one day I will be playing in it because during that time Ba was only well known for football.

“Now that I am here, I want to improve on my kicking skills and hope that one day it will secure me a (overseas) contract somewhere or even the Fijian Drua.”

Ba head coach Vilimoni Delasau applauded the young man for playing above his weight.

“Sailasa is a very good player for his size, he does not care of his small stature, he is a big bonus for the Ba team and the best kicker in the backline,” Delasau, a former international star winger said.

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