Praveen Bala: Rally Behind Our 7s Team

The Minister for Youth and Sports Parveen Bala has called on all Fijians around the globe to rally behind the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team at the Hong Kong 7s on April 5-7.

Bala was present to see the team off yesterday morning at the Nadi International Airport.

He told the Paula Dranisinuku­la-captained side to continue to pursue silverware and strive for the best.

“As we all know, Fiji is well known for winning the Hong Kong 7s and I have no doubt whatsoever that the boys can do it again,” Bala said.

“I want to wish the team very well.”

He has urged the fans to be posi­tive at all times even if the re­sults do not come the way of the Fijians.

“The team management and the coach are focussed on doing the job,” Bala added.

“There is pressure in every sin­gle tournament and every single game.

“We know that we have a record in Hong Kong. Teams will want to prevent us from extending that.

“That’s a big challenge.”

Team head coach Gareth Baber said there can be no backward step in Hong Kong as the whole country is expecting Fiji to march through the tournament.

Losing Nasoko a big blow

Baber added that losing injured skipper Kalione Nasoko was a big blow.

“I knew that eventually I will be losing him by the end of the sea­son,” he said.

“But it is now an opportunity for the other players to step up and fill the vacuum.

“We have got a view of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in 17 months. So I have to test players under pressure.

“Some of those players have limited experience certainly playing in Hong Kong. Now is the time for them to step up and make that happen.”

-Edited by Sheldon Chanel

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