Sofi out to keep fitness
NATIONAL women’s football captain Sofi Diyalowai made her debut for the Savusavu women’s rugby side during the 2023 McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s tournament.
The 29-year-old captained the national side to the Pacific Four Nations Cup in Australia in November.
Diyalowai said during off-season from football, playing rugby helped her keep fit.
“Soccer season resumes next month so I thought to play in this tournament to keep my fitness at the required level,” she said.
The Labasa football mid-fielder is not new to the rugby field as she featured for the Macuata 15s side in 2011.
“Rugby is my second favourite sport, of course it’s the national sport so I do love playing it when I’m not playing soccer. With age catching up, I want to achieve something in rugby as well before I have to hang my boots.”
Diyalowai is from Natokalau in Ba. She started playing football in 2009, and became a referee in 2016.
In 2013, she won the Fiji FA woman footballer of the year award.
In August 2018, she was named to the Fijian team for the 2018 OFC Women’s Nations Cup.
In 2019 she trialled for French club Stade De Reims. She captained the Fiji team for the 2022 OFC Women’s Nations Cup.
Savusavu’s Sofi Diyalowai flicks a pass against Seahawks in the women’s competition during the McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s tournament at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka
yesterday. a second-year Bachelor of Sports Management student at the Massey University in Northshore, Auckland, scored seven tries in her team’s opening three games.
“The competition level here is good as the teams from overseas also make it an event to look forward to. The atmosphere is just great as the physicality of the matches takes it to another level.”
She competed in the 100m, 200m and the relays at secondary schools and national level.
Originally from Kadavu, she plays left wing for the North Harbour women’s rugby side.
She said she had trust in her Seahawks team to lift the women’s title today.
Oscar Jorgensen of Australian Schoolboys attacks against AJ Pallets Ba River in the youth
competition. Pictures: JONACANI LALAKOBAU
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Pictures: JONACANI LALAKOBAU