MISSION TO INSPIRE
Cyclone Keni survivors here to win with the hope of inspiring their people back in the island
Despite the devastation brought by Cyclone Keni on their island, the athletes of Kadavu Provincial Secondary School will give their best and become a source of inspiration to their people back home.
The school’s athletics manager, Rupeni Seru, told
SUNsports that they were in Suva to represent their island. The 14-member squad and their teachers marched into the camp in Nabua early yesterday morning.
“Though we were hit by the cyclone it was not as bad as the other schools in the island, we still feel for them,” Seru said.
“We are here to not only represent our school but the island of Kadavu as a whole. Preparations for the last three weeks were good and we are looking forward to the three-day event.”
Seru said after the cyclone struck they had a few meetings before they decided to take on the challenge of coming to Suva to take part.
“We thought it would be best to bring the students over to participate during the Games and to become a source of inspiration to all the people back home. We the people of Kadavu have the habit that when we get knocked down we get back up and move on again.”
Today, they take to the ANZ Stadium to participate in the Maritime Zone before focusing on the CocaCola Games, which starts on Thursday.
TWINS: WE WERE AFFECTED BADLY
Twins Josua and Tokoni Senivuata who were among the 14 athletes said their home was totally destroyed during the cyclone. The 16-year-old twins hail from Vacalea in Nakasaleka and will run in the 4x400metres relay.
Josua said though they were not at home when the cyclone struck but the news of the destruction of home really affected them emotionally.
“We were camping at school when the cyclone hit our home, so we did not see much of it but when we heard the stories from our parents we really felt it, it was really painful” Josua said.
“So being in Suva today and representing my school, my brother will try our best to win a medal, for our parents, our relatives and our people back home.”