Game of a lifetime for Vonokula players
Tabadamu stay consistent
Defending Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament champions, Tabadamu plan to stay consistent with their performance as they head towards the knockout stages. Speaking to SUNsports yesterday team manager Ulaiasi Bolalailai said they are taking it one game at a time.
“Our first game was a tough one but it set the platform heading into tomorrow,” he said.
From playing on the white sandy beaches in Moala, Lau, then to the ANZ Stadium in Suva to face the Fijian Shadow 7s team is a dream come true for the Vonokula players.
Despite losing 41-0 in their pool opener of the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s tournament, but to rub shoulders with the country’s best 7s players is something the islanders will cherish in years to come.
The players are kava farmers from the villages of Nuku, Vunuku, Vadra and Naroi.
Speaking to SUNsports yesterday Vonokula coach Jone Likusuasua said they are happy to be playing in Suva.
“For most of our players this is probably the first time they are playing in Suva at the Marist 7s,” Likusuasua said.
“It is hard to express the looks on the players’ faces when they were lined-up in the tunnel beside the Fiji 7s players. It was an unbelievable experience for most of them. He said some of the players told him they were taken aback to be standing alongside Meli Derenalagi and Jerry Tuwai.
“Most of the time we only watched them on television and hear their names. After the game the boys had to take their time coming out because they wanted to shake hands with all the Fiji reps.
“This is a story of their lifetime. They’ll live to tell their families back in the island.”
Likusuasua said they are here to learn and develop their rugby.
“It’s good that we played the Fiji Shadow 7s team because we’ve learned a lot of things from them. “Also we were here to learn how to how to organise rugby tournaments.
“When we return we want to host a competition to select the best players from the region to come play in next year’s Marist 7s.”