Rawaca gets help
Fijian Teachers Association’s act of goodwill to support our Rio campaign
Vodafone Fijian 7s sevens star and blockbusting winger Savenaca Rawaca is recovering at the Suva Private Hospital. And thanks to the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) for paying his hospital bills. Rawaca told the Fiji Sun yesterday that he sustained the injury in Fiji’s first pool match against Canada in Hong Kong. However, Rawaca said he played throughout the tournament until he pulled his hamstring against Australia in the Cup semifinals. FTA president Gauna Halofaki said they were paying for Rawaca’s hospital bill through the members’ welfare fund.
He told the Fiji Sun that an employee of the FTA and retired school teacher Taito Draunidalo had taken his wife to the Suva Private Hospital last Friday when he saw Rawaca limped out of the hospital. “Mr Draunidalo called me on my mobile phone and told me about the sevens star and I directed him to admit the 7s hero and FTA will meet the bills,” he said.
Halofaki said he called the hospital for Rawaca to be admitted under his executive authority.
“I used this authority for members to be admitted at the Suva Private Hospital.” He said for Rawaca it was a very special case especially when he was not a teacher. Halofaki said he used this power based on the fact that Rawaca was a national sports hero. FTA, he says, was paying $6000 for his hospital bills for six days.
Halofaki said this was also FTA’s contribution in their support to the national sevens team campaign to win the gold medal at the Rio Olympic Games in August. He has also invited Rawaca to visit FTA regularly as they wanted to maintain their friendship. The FTA executives fully supported the action taken by the president. “I thank FTA for the help they had offered me,” Rawaca said. He added that he was also suffering a hamstring injury but it was his leg that was very painful. When asked whether he would take part in other tournaments, Rawaca says, he is now focused on the Rio Olympic Games.