Kafoa’s hopes to insipre Rotuma students

While watching rugby league games on his mobile phone Vamarasi Kafoa did not dream of being selected to the Junior Bati squad. 

The Pepjei, Rotuma lad might be only 15 years old but he has already set his goal – to don the white jumper one day.

The Rotuma High School student caught the eyes of Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata when he visited Rotuma to introduce rugby league earlier this year.

Kafoa and was selected with two other Rotuman students, Gordon Samuela and Winnie’ofa Morita Tatino. They are part of the U18 squad that will play against the Southwest Queensland Emus team on Saturday at Churchill Park, Lautoka. 

For Kafoa, this was a lucky chance. He had only watched rugby league on his phone before, but never played the code.

He said rugby league is not just a sport it is a pathway to inspire his peers on the island and prove that dreams can grow even from the smallest places. 

“It’s an honour to be selected. Many students here they want to play but coach picked us so I am fortunate,” Kafoa said. 

“I will do my best and return to encourage the students in Rotuma to play rugby league, train hard and be disciplined.”

Leaving Rotuma to march into camp last Sunday was not easy especially with understanding of the Fijian language. 

He admitted it was also hard to be away from home and his parents. 

“How the camp is going – is quite tough but we have to accept it because that is the beginning of every journey. We have to start from humble beginnings and go to where you expect to go,” he said. 

Kafoa plays on the wing and Penrith Panther’s Nathan Cleary is someone he looks up to.

He said his parents have always been his biggest supporters, standing by him through both struggles and happy times.

He was a silver medallist in the junior boys discus throw at this year’s the Fiji Secondary Schools Coca-Cola Games.