FRU to help Bolaca, dad pleads for support
FIJI Rugby Union executive chairman Humphrey Tawake says they are working with the Fijian Drua to find out what actually happened to former Fiji 7s playmaker Napolioni Bolaca to assist him to get back into the game.
Speaking to The Fiji Times yesterday, Tawake said “we are trying to help out with whatever means that we can.”
“He came out of the Drua contract, we are trying to follow up what happened and what ocurred and probably will try and assist in whatever way we can,” he said.
“We are working with the Drua on that front together with our HPU (High Performance Unit) unit in terms of giving him some support.”
The Fiji Times had asked the FRU executive chairman what programs it had in terms of player welfare for Bolaca after he injured himself after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during a provincial rugby tournament and he was subsequently dropped from the Fijian Drua in May last year.
His father, Apimeleki Nasalo acknowledged the individuals, coaches and die-hard fans who have rallied behind his son to raise the $NZ30,000 ($F41,000) needed for specialised surgery to allow him to continue his professional rugby career.
“To the gentleman who set up the GoFundMe account Meli Nauluvula, to Tevita Tuiloa, Saiasi Fuli and to everyone who has donated, thank you all so much for supporting my son,” Nasalo said.
“Napo eats and breathes rugby and when he was told of this injury about two years ago, it really hit him and the family hard.
“But that did not stop him from training, he believes that one day he will don the national sevens jumper again.”
Nasalo claimed his son suffered the ACL injury during a provincial match he played in some years back.
This injury cut short his professional rugby career.
Since then, he has been part of the Wadigi sevens team that participated in a number of local tournaments.
Former FRU interim CEO Tevita Tuiloa took to Facebook to plead with Fijians to assist Bolaca finance his medical treatment.
“This is an appeal on behalf of Napo, a humble servant of Fiji rugby, heart, soul and personality of any team that he’s part of,” Tuiloa posted.
“To anyone who is willing to give whatever they can to help this rugby hero get back into fit and fighting shape, please do so.
“Napo is also thinking of life after rugby and he wants to be the best version of himself so he can be a good husband to his wife and father to his children.”
In May last year, former Fijian Drua CEO Brian Thorburn indicated that Bolaca’s secondment to the Drua had come to an end and stated that the decision was taken in the “best interest of all parties”, and at the “request of coach Ben Gollings”.
Meanwhile, Nauluvula aims to raise $US20,000 through GoFundMe to help Bolaca with medical bills, surgery, post-operation treatment, and physical therapy to make a full recovery.