Tuwai, Wind
■ Fiji Rugby Union, Fiji Swimming dominate sports awards
Seremaia (Jerry) Tuwai and Moana Wind were the country’s top sportspersons of 2019.
Last night at the Vodafone Arena in Suva, Tuwai was named the Fiji Tattslotto Sportsman of the Year while swimmer Wind is the Fiji Sportswoman of the Year.
The Fiji Airways Fijian 7s star halfback is also the 2018/19 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year while Wind is the region’s fastest breast stroke swimmer.
“My gratitude goes to God for making this happen,” Tuwai said.
“Also, to my team-mates for standing with me and helping me lift my game. Rugby is a team support and we always work together as one. Not forgetting my family, for their endless support towards my rugby career.”
The Fiji Rugby Union and Fiji Swimming dominated the 2019 Fiji Sports Awards, as they collected four awards each.
FRU chief executive officer John O’Connor said they are grateful to their board for the direction they’ve taken.
“We’ve adopted good governance as we work closely in maintaining a united organisation,” he said. O’Connor also congratulated Tuwai and 7s head coach Gareth Baber who was also named the Coach of the Year.
Fiji Swimming president Ben Rova got the Administrator of the Year award.
“It is going to be a reward for the time and effort that I’ve put into the sport. We’ve so many administrator in sports who come from different federations within Fiji Swimming, but be nominated from our federation is a humbling experience,” he said.
As head of Fiji Swimming, Rova said they had set their goals and had drawn up their strategic plans. “One of the things about leadership is that you must make sure that we all stay focused to achieve the results,” he said.
“Sometimes the decision that we do may not be agreeable to everybody, but at the end of the day, as long as you keep the focus and execute what you have been planning,” Rova added.