Food assistance
AFTER going through some old news during the first and second wave of COVID-19 attack, I sort of agreed to the proposed idea of the leader of SODELPA, honourable Viliame Gavoka, for Government to pay tax rebates to restaurants, supermarkets, food court if they give their left over food to a food bank setup to cater for the many hundreds of thousands of empty stomachs in Nadi and nearby areas directly affected by COVID-19 because of an evidence based FRIENDS Fiji Assessment on Nadi, Lautoka, Sigatoka families which is captured on videos.
Most families are lucky to have one or two meals a day due to financial hardship because of no jobs.
Even though our tourism industry has started recently, it will take some time before most families return the way they were before the pandemic.
While adults can skip a meal, our children cannot because they are growing and need all the energy they can have.
I saw a latest food assistance project on social media been given out by FRIENDS Fiji, because they know that a lot of Fijians are still facing difficulties to put food on the table.
My only wish is if the Government can do the same since Christmas Day is just around the corner. JIOJI M CAKACAKA Tadra-Votualevu, Nadi
Soccer platform
SORRY, my friend Sharif Shah of Savusavu, Jan Nissar did not respond to your request regarding football in Fiji as he was busy organising a snooker tournament at South Seas Club Lautoka.
Just like Nardeo Mishra (FT 15/12).
I also asked Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel if the four unopposed Vice — presidents really showed their worth?
How about bring the four out to an open question and answer forum on the status of Fijian football, than continue their journey for the next four years?
Suddenly, the Digicel Premier league will be played under a new format next season with each team playing 28 matches.
Mr Patel’s reason: “This is to give more game time to our players to enhance their skills and keep them fit for the whole season.
“This is how we will improve as it is a new technical requirement, according to studies done by the new expatriate national coach.” What a joke Mr Patel.
Are our players ready to play 28 matches, than later participate in the bazaar type Fiji FACT, BOG and IDC? It is over 80 years since the parent body was established, with most current officials over the age of 55 years.
Mr Patel, the die hard football fans of our beloved Fiji want to know when the Bula boys will be part of the World Cup.
The next qualifiers are coming up. I hope this time round the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of preparation time does not become an excuse.
Welcome aboard Lisa Cole, another expatriate former American women’s football coach and player as Fiji women’s football coach to take the position left vacant by our own former national player and coach Marika Roda.
Enjoy the perks and free rides of our beautiful tiny island nation of Fiji. The difference is very clear compared with locals and expatriates packages.
CEO, Mohammed Yusuf, do not count your chickens before they hatch.
Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia and the under strength New Zealand teams will be no pushovers for the World Cup qualifiers in Qatar in March, 2022.
RAYMOND SINGH
Golf Links, Lautoka