Slow start
Salawa strives to find form
SWIRE Shipping Fijian Drua flanker Kitione Salawa is slowly getting back in form after recovering from an unkind shoulder injury last year.
It was a tough 11 months on the sideline for the hard-hitting flanker who had to spend seven months in rehab, overcoming not just his physical injury but the psychological impacts as well.
He came off the bench in the 39-36 win over the Waratahs on Saturday and while he copped a yellow card, the Namotomoto, Nadi youngster showed glimpses of why he was one of the standouts from last season.
Salawa said getting back to competitive rugby was an uphill battle.
“It was a tough seven months of rehab and training. Sometimes I would feel discouraged, but I’m reminded of the people that I do this for, I picture my family at home who have been my most loyal supporters,” he said.
His family also served as his constant daily reminders to pull his socks up when it matters.
“I wake up at 6 in the morning and head for training, before the rest of the players come for training, I’ll be at the gym working on my rehab. Sometimes I would fall back on my training but my family, my father was there to push me back up.
“I would get a good lecture from my father when he finds out that I’ve been missing training and I guess that pushed me to overcome my injury, to see through my rehab and get back on the field,” Salawa added.
With renewed perspective, the 22-year-old is pushing to return to his fine form.
“I felt I didn’t perform as well as I thought I would, I also got a yellow card, and I will improve on my discipline. I don’t know what the coach has in plan for the next game but I’m praying that I make the starting line-up.”
Salawa and the Fijian Drua will host the Western Force for the first time in Fiji this weekend at Lautoka’s Churchill Park.
The match will kick-off at 1.05pm.