Miller Looks for Local Coaches and Officials
“It’s a good opportunity not only for the athletes but also for our administrators and coaches.”
Tuesday 13 February 2024 | 14:20
Pacific Games technical officials Waisiki Koroivulavou (left) and Biu Colati at the National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands on November 30, 2023. Photo: Sereana Salalo
National athletics coach Albert Miller is on the lookout for local coaches and officials to assist Team Fiji in the Oceania Athletics Championship at the HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, from June 4-8.
“In the next few weeks, we’ll be sending out expressions of interest for coaches and officials for the Oceania games,” he said.
“It’s a good opportunity not only for the athletes but also for our administrators and coaches.”
Miller said they are encouraging the secondary schools athletics coaches to include student athletes in the Oceania Championship.
“We have three teams, there is the Open grade, Under-20 and 16 so we have to prepare six teams including men’s and women’s,” he said.
“It’s a big ask for team officials. In athletics, we have sprint (or distance), throws and jumps coaches so we are looking at five or more coaches per team.”
Miller said they are positive at filling in athletes in every event at the Oceania Championship.
“It is an opportunity for our athletes to showcase their talent in throw and jump events,” he said.
“The Oceania Championship is a bronze level competition allowing an athlete to gain points that goes towards the world ranking.”
Miller said they expect many top athletes to compete at the Oceania Championship.
“These athletes can get maximum points in the regional competition so that they can better their chances in moving up the rank so they can compete in Paris,” he said.
“We hope to attract a few other overseas based athletes because in my understanding these athletes will be backing Fiji by then.”
Pacific Games technical officials Waisiki Koroivulavou (left) and Biu Colati at the National Stadium, Honiara, Solomon Islands on November 30, 2023. Photo: Sereana Salalo
Miller said they are looking to field over 100 athletes in the Oceania Championship.
“We are hoping to have three athletes in at least every event so it’s going to be a big number of athletes,” he said.
“There is going to be more opportunities for our locally based athletes to showcase themselves.”
Miller said both athletes and administration have prepared well for the Oceania Championship.
“We are just waiting for the tracks to be certified before the athletes can resume training on the tracks,” he said.
“The athletes currently train at whichever place they can at the beach in Suva Point, Suva Grammar, Sacred Heart grounds, Marist Brothers High School grounds and Albert Park.”
Feedback: ioane.asioli@fijisun.com.fj
