'MAKE HISTORY'
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has called on the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians that the time has come for them to make history at the Rugby World Cup.
“This is your moment to seize your place in history and make your statement in rugby’s grandest stage,” Mr Bainimarama told the players in a video message. He meets up with them today before their Rugby World Cup opener against Australia at the Sapporo Dome in Sapporo, Japan.
“Stay humble, stay discipline, stay focused on your role on the field. If you live up to your highest potential you won’t be able to let us down.” “You have something that the other nations don’t have. An entire nation that is united behind your success. The passion of the Fijian people towards rugby is unrivalled. Put on your jerseys, tie your boots, the eyes of the entire nation is upon you.”
He highlighted that school kids, nurses, teachers, CEOs, mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers and every Fijian is with them. “They hold every faith in your abilities,” the PM said.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s video message to the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians last night during the jersey presentation.
Bula vinaka coach, bula vinaka boys. I wish I could be there with you. As you are watching this I will be enroute to Japan where I will meet you all at Sapporo Dome ahead of your first match against the Wallabies.
You’ve now had some time on the ground in Japan to prepare for the task you have ahead. In the coming days you will be going up against the toughest competition the world of rugby has to offer. Every team in this tournament has worked their butts off to be here.
They have put in the hours just as you have to ready themselves to compete at the highest level running drills, watching game films and developing their ingame strategies. And you can have no doubt they all want to take home the Webb Ellis Cup as badly as each of you.
But you have something no other team has, an entire nation united behind your success. The passion of the Fijian people for this game is unrivalled by any other country in the world of rugby. When you put on this jersey, lace your boots and take the field, the eyes of the entire nation will be upon you.
School kids, nurses, teachers, CEOs, civil servants, mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, every Fijian everywhere in Fiji is with you.
We are rooting for you and we hold every faith in your abilities. This is your moment to seize your place in history and make a statement on rugby’s grandest stage.
Stay humble, stay disciplined and stay focused on your roles on the field. If you do that, if you live up to your highest potential, you won’t be able to let us down. See you on Saturday.
Vinaka and