Fiji Sun

Ex-Hockey Rep Still Going Strong At 55

- Yvette Kava in Lautoka on July 31, 2020. Edited by Leone Cabenatabu­a Feedback: salote.qalubau@fijisun.com.fj

She is one of the pioneers that founded the Marist Women’s Lautoka hockey team in the 1980s.

And there was no turning back for Yvette Kava, despite the fact that the club got disbanded in 2007.

Her love for the sport got to her son Kyle who followed her footsteps making his debut in the second round of the 2017 Hockey World League in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The 55-year-old Kava said it all start from her mother Jane Dyer who played for the Navutu hockey team with the likes of star players like Julia King.

“We always took part in hockey because our parents played the game too,” she said.

“When we grew older, my dad started our club which was the Marist women and most of the players were former students of Saint Thomas High School,” she recalled. Kava said hockey has now changed in terms of rules compared to their time.

“Hockey now is easier to play. You can stand in front and wait for the ball but back in our time it was like soccer, you weren’t allowed to be in front of the ball,” she said.

“It was a family sport and we used to play hockey at Churchill Park because it was centrally located.

“It was easier for people to play and then do their shopping and go home.

“Now we have to go right to Nadovu Park, the fact is that we have to sit and wait and it’s an additional expense.”

Kava said earlier this year she played in a tournament with six other former team-mates from the Boomerang club.

“We played against the Marist Women’s in Suva and held them 1-0.

“Considerin­g the age difference, they’re like below 30 and most of us were over and it’s just the skill and how you read the game,” she said. “Back then if you wanted to represent Lautoka you had to train hard and if you miss training, you don’t play.

“Nowadays they train or not they still get in the team.

“I would say you have to have the heart to play because in our time we fought tooth and nail to get in.” Kava said plans were underway to have a tournament however details are yet to be confirmed.

“I will only tell more when time is right,” she added. the

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Salote Qalobau
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Photo: Salote Qalubau

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