your views
‘A good newspaper is a nation talking to itself’
Unpatriotic fans Iliesa Naivalu, Suva
It was indeed breathtaking watching the Flying Fijians beat Scotland last Saturday but it was very disturbing to see a very low turnout.
Few weeks back, over 17,000 Fiji fans filled the ground to capacity paying tickets more than triple the price to watch two new New Zealand teams with only three Fijians playing. One had to pay $190 for a stadium seat and fans spent hundreds of dollars on ticket costs and jerseys of the two teams amounting to thousands of dollars.
But when our very own boys, 23 in all, some made the effort to leave their countries of residence and came home to meet a tier one nation at home. They would certainly be baffled by our lack of interest. After that historic victory, the boys walked around the ground to express their appreciation, by that time, only a handful were left on the embankment.
With $50 per ticket on the stadium and a mere $20.00 for the embankment spaces, such tickets were affordable. The weather was fine and cool.
Most of us who were on the ground on that day questioned the attitude of the Fijian fans. By the look of things in as far as rugby in Fiji is concerned, it seems there are more NZ citizens in this country. This could be the price we pay when we involve ourselves in money making franchise in sports. Some would say that Super 15 has taken preference over national matches; one only has to take note of the large number of fans from the three nations that produce the Super 15 teams namely NZ, Australia and South Africa. They fill their large stadiums to capacity whenever their national teams play. The same happens to every sport the world over just as Pakistan beat India in the ICC one-day match that just ended in London recently. Indians and Pakistanis in Briton and from around the globe converged to a neutral ground to cheer their respective teams in that sensational finale.
After meeting Australia, Italy and Scotland our boys have proved that they can counter any tier one nation as they are now able to master all facets of the game that used to be our woes in yesteryears. That is a huge achievement and should be the deciding factor for us Fijians to come together and support our national team. It is really sad that the iTaukei word valataki vanua (fighting for my country) has lost its significance among the fans these days.
Years ago, our people used to be very good at pointing figures at our national team, and, now when the boys have given their very best, and on par with many tier one nations, the fans have chosen to stay away. Indeed it is heartbreaking!
It was a thrill to be around the park on Saturday with that mesmerizing and scintillating atmosphere as our boys showed their class both as a unit and individual skills which is the envy of many national rugby teams. We are now confident that the Flying Fijians are on track to create wonders in the coming World Cup.
I would urge the FRU, the Sports Council and Government to consider a 2-hour delay broadcast for all our future national matches on Free to Air TV screening as they do in overseas countries. Free to Air coverage should only be permitted when about 80 percent of the tickets are sold.
Anyway, congratulations to the boys, coach John McKee and his team, match officials from abroad and the die-hard fans who spent their money to support the mighty Flying Fijians playing at home.
Cards Down
Timaima Ledua, Nasinu
This budget reminds me of a card game I once played.
It just so happen that all the trump came to me.
All other players decided to throw their cards down.
Opposition parties will have to throw their cards down now.
Game over!
Well, you all were given the chance to serve the poor and disadvantaged. Weren't you?
What’s economic growth? Suka Singh, Labasa
Fiji has had 10 years of unprecedented economic growth but why do we still have so much poverty and why do the prices of everything keep going up?
Why can't an ordinary soul like me enjoy this economic growth?
Could somebody tell me what is this economic growth?