Matawalu back for Lakeba after 24 years
Nadroga Rugby Union president, Tiko Matawalu played for the Lakeba cricket team yesterday.
Matawalu, a former national cricket and rugby rep, played cricket again after more than two decades.
He is now Fiji Rugby Union’s Development Officer for Region 5 which consists of Nadroga, Navosa, Malolo, Yasawa, Nadi and Vatulele.
“It’s great to be back playing cricket at Albert Park, it brings back memories.
“It has been 24 long years, this is where everything started. “I started off playing cricket at a very young age and broke into the national team at 18. “And I left cricket for rugby as soon as I left high school at Suva Grammar.
“That’s when I continued playing rugby and less time for cricket.
“After University I moved across to Sigatoka. I was posted as a bank officer with Fiji Development Bank, and that’s where rugby for me went up to another level.
“It was where I broke into the Nadroga team, national 15’s team.
“I’m still there as an administrator for Nadroga team and now with FRU.
“So it has been a long journey. “I’m happy to be spending my Saturday here at Albert Park.” The Tubou, Lakeba, Lau, native played cricket together with Cricket Fiji executive officer, Alex Konrote, during high school and in the national team.
“I can still see some senior players here, some of my uncles and cousins who are still playing,” Matawalu said.
“I’m planning to come in every Saturday provided that I’m free from my weekly engagements.
Matawalu added that cricket has developed in the past years.
“Cricket has changed a lot. First of all, we did not have uniforms, like now,” he said. Meanwhile, Konrote said, the men and women’s national side is expected to be named in March.
The T20 league competition should end in early March before the Easter Championship.
Some results:
Moce defeated Ono-i-Lau by 22 runs, Punjabi Tigers beat Lakeba Development, Nasaqalau beat Total by 40 runs.