Jasa: Play as a team
OLYMPIC Games gold medallist and former Fiji Airways Fiji 7s rep Jasa Veremalua says the Ben Gollingscoached side has to work as a team in order to win tournaments.
Serious questions have been asked on the performance of the national side following their 17 tournament title drought on the HSBC SVNS Series.
Veremalua, who featured for DXC Barbarians during the Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s tournament at Prince Charles Park in Nadi yesterday, said the public had to give their support to the boys.
“We need to support the boys. Even though they have not been good in the past few tournaments, they need our support, especially the family back home here in Fiji,” he said.
When questioned on what was needed for the side to get back to winning ways, he said they needed to work on their team effort.
“Mostly they are relying on their individual performance and if they play as a team, I am sure everything will work out well,” the lanky forward said.
Despite the strong calls from Fijian fans to sack Gollings as the head coach of the national side, Veremalua urged the diehard fans to give the Englishman a chance.
“Give him a chance as I think he has plans for the Olympics Games.”
He acknowledged the organisers of the Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s for giving opportunities for small teams in the tournament.
“I am happy to see youth players playing and the tournament promoting the grassroot level.”
Veremalua, now 35 years old, plays his rugby for the Tem Aviv Heat. In 2012, he was named best player won the Campese-Serevi Medal during the Coral Coast 7s.
He made his debut for Fiji 7s at the 2013 Wellington tournament and went on to be a key member in former coach Ben Gollings team that won gold during the Olympic Games in Rio, Brazil in 2016.
Pictures: BALJEET SINGH