Incredible achievement
Top story
I READ all the stories covered by our industrious sports team, and the story of Aporosa Natau (ST 12/03), who works as a watchman at the home of an England national, stood out.
The gesture by his employer touched my heart. Rugby is in our blood, and the success of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua brightened this week.
The 56-year-old Natau shared that he did not spend a single dollar to watch history take place at Churchill Park as his employer offered him free tickets and transport.
Travelling from Natunuku in Ba, an extra ticket was offered to his eldest son. Being his first time to a Super Rugby match, Natau would cherish the experience, and he would start saving whatever money he could to attend the Fijian Drua’s home games.
I thank Natau’s employer for having a gold heart, and for this wonderful gesture.
I remember buying tickets for two of my iTaukei friends last year, when the Drua battled the Highlanders at the HFC Bank Stadium, and they were emotional as I handed them their tickets.
The beautiful thing about rugby is it unites races, and this was evident on Saturday when every Fijian joined hands to cheer for the Fijian Drua! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Power of one
OUR Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, congratulated the winning Fijian Drua team on Saturday and mentioned the “power of one vote” in reference to the Fijian Drua’s thrilling 25-24 victory over the defending champion Crusaders at Lautoka’s Churchill Park.
Indeed, for Mr Rabuka’s Coalition Government and our Fijian Drua team, winning by just a single vote — or point, for that matter — over their rivals has been crucial.
In front of the home crowd, the victory was much sweeter.
This is an incredible achievement for the Fijian Drua given the track record that the Crusaders are one of the most successful rugby teams in New Zealand and have won the Super
Rugby championship eleven times.
The Fijian Drua team will undoubtedly gain a lot from this victory in terms of morale since they are a relatively new team and are competing in Super Rugby for the second season.
It’s also critical to remember that Fijian rugby has become well-known throughout the world for its exhilarating, quick-paced style of play.
In light of this, the Fijian Drua team’s victory over the Crusaders is not only an impressive feat but also a testament to the quality of Fijian rugby as a whole.
I would like congratulate the entire Drua team. You have not just won this game; you have won thousands of hearts of fans at home and aboard. Toso Drua!
DINESH KUMAR,
Ba
Drua win - time freeze
I was a very little boy, as a Class 3 student at a local primary school in Nasinu known now as Kalabu Primary School, when our national Fiji rugby team defeated the British Lions on August 15, 1977.
I can vividly remember that our class went to watch that game at Buckhurst Park.
The late Master Tomasi Matanatabu Musunamasi (senior), RIP, was our teacher and father of former Fiji rugby team fullback Kemueli Musunamasi who played in that match.
Master Tomasi threw his leather brief case teaching bag in the air after the final whistle with all its contents flying in disarray.
Time just froze or stood still! That same feeling was again felt by the Fijian Drua team supporters after the final whistle last Saturday afternoon at Churchill Park after beating one of the top best rugby team in universe!
Best wishes to the team, staff and management of our Fijian Drua team in the remaining games in this year’s competition.
#Toso Fijian Drua!
JIOJI M CAKACAKA
Tadra, Votualevu, Nadi