FUGA SETS PATHWAY FOR FIJIAN WOMEN

JUST days out from representing the Fijiana 15s side at its inaugural women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Merevesi Fuga hopped onto a plane to Australia as part of the Digicel Kula Girls squad to the Pacific Four Nations football tournament.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper kept a clean sheet in the opening round which saw Fiji beat Oceania champion Papua New Guinea 2-nil in the opening round on Tuesday. Fuga, who plays club rugby for Suva, also represented the Fijiana Drua side in the Super W competition this year.

She said it was an honour to be able to represent Fiji in t w o major sports.

“It is not easy, but I managed to deal with it,” she said.

“It’s all about managing time. I play soccer and when needed, I join the rugby team as well.”

The single mother to a fouryear-old son, said she faced many challenges along the way.

“It surely hasn’t been easy. Now when I travel, I have friends and my family members who help me look after my boy.

“So, it becomes a little bit easy

knowing he is safe.”

She said she had a few more years left in her and would like to finish on a high note.

“For both the sports I play, I would love to see the teams reach finals of international events and improve on the rankings.

“It’s good to see many young players coming up and I will try my very best to pass on the knowledge to them.”

She encouraged young women to take up the sport of their interest because of the abundant opportunities available.

“When I started years ago, there were not many opportunities.

“Now there are so many. We get to travel, receive the best training and on top of all, represent our country.”

Fuga will be an important aspect for the Kula Girls team when they face hosts, the Young Matildas in their second match of the Pacific Four Nations at 6pm in Canberra, Australia, today.