Canadians Love God-Fearing Bati
Vodafone Fijian Bati team is not only turning heads at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup but beyond.
The team drew huge praise at the B.C Place Stadium in Vancouver during the Maori All- Blacks-Canada international last Friday. Having watched their team get obliterated, disappointed many found solace by praising Fijian Bati,a team that saw its popularity soar for putting God first during their RLWC campaign. Among the strong 30,000 crowed was Allen and Rebecca Klinsman, the self-described, rugby fanatics, said they’ve been following Fijian Bati and the Fijian rugby for years. “We are here to support Canada, but these Maori All Blacks are just too good of a team “, said Allen. “I guess Canada needs to put God first much like Fiji.”
Allen said Fijians are certainly enjoying the RLWC, added it’s all about believing in themselves and having faith in God.
“Wouldn’t it be nice to see Fiji win it all “, Allen said to a group of Fijians, while Rebecca high fives a young Fijian couple seated beside her.
Darrell Stall, a Surrey-rite talks about how good Fiji Bati was in its opening game, thumping USA 5812.
“I’m a huge fan of the Fijian rugby. They’re some story at the RLWC.” The team is certainly garnering praise from all quarters of the sporting world, said Adam Smith, an Australian by birth but calls Vancouver home.
“Did you see them Fijians sing aloud-in their locker room? I’m just loving it.
“What are they singing”, he asked Subarmani Reddy, a Canadian Fijian photojournalist.
Reddy explains, “The players chain link their arms around each other singing hymns.
“You don’t get to see that often. Fijians are God fearing people”, Reddy said, as he walks through some subdued Canadians on Fiji’s national sport and what it means to every i-taukei men, who dream of representing the country one day. Monika Anderson, a Canadian Fijian and her New Zealand born husband, Mark Anderson couldn’t agree more with Reddy, said for a country like Fiji, it is their rugby that has put them on the map.
“It’s truly a culture, Fijians’ play for pride more than anything else.” Canada men’s side lost the game 59-9 at the hands of Maori All Blacks.
“We got beat bad,” said Anderson. `Fijian Bati beat Wales 72-6 in its second game, they will wrap up their World Cup pool play against Italy in Canberra on Friday.