Wahid’s top tech man AT& T Park

His office sits at the top of the AT&T Park and monitors all the technological and communications network of the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament.

He was hired by World Rugby through US Rugby to be the tournament’s director of technology.

He is Abdul Wahid, a telecommunication engineer, former Lelean Memorial School student and Rewa football defender from 1980 to 1985.

During the RWCS, Wahid is in-charge of all broadcast networks and referee’s communication network. “I’ve developed a system that is used here and the AT&T Park guys build-up the infrastructure for it,” he said.

“I’ve done similar things during the Super Bowl 50 and the FIFA World Cups in South Africa and Brazil.

“Since I specialises in sports and entertainment technology, I’ve travelled a lot to Central America and Europe. Today’s sports stadium is all about technology.” During the RWCS, Wahid says, he receives hourly reports on all technological networks.

“We had a few glitches but it was all minor mainly due to power failures.”

Wahid was a former FINTEL worker before moving to the United States in 1985.

“I’m proud to be a former Lelean student,” he added. He played left back for the Rewa football team from 1980 to 1985.

“I played with players like Abdul Mannan, Mohammed Salim, Vula Wate, George Koi, George Samisoni, Jimmy Okete, Tony Kabakoro and so on.”

While working in Dubai for five years, Wahid who is a qualified football coach was in-charge of a junior college team.

Looking ahead, Wahid says, he’s willing to assist in the running of all technology and communication networks if Fiji gets the nod to host the World Sevens Series.

Meanwhile, during the tournament, an evacuation message in the case of an emergency usually comes in at every interval.

Wahid confirmed that the voice on the AT&T Park message was none other than Helen Chandra, a former Fijian radio announcer who is now living in America.