Parents engage children in Labasa sporting activites
Parents in Labasa have wasted no time to engage their children in sporting activities to promote healthy living and physical fitness during this school break.
Recently over 100 school students participated in the inaugural Milo Tag Rugby festival at the Shri Guru Nanak Khalsa College grounds in Labasa. Former Fijian 15s rugby international, Seremaia Bai, was the event co-ordinator. Parents were out in numbers cheering their children on under the scorching Babasiga weather.
Mother of four, Losalini Matavesi, braved the weather, to encourage her children to understand the importance of physical training and ensure her children did not put on weight during the break. Ms Matavesi was excited to see her three daughters and son take part in the tag rugby sessions.
She said children nowadays concentrated more on their gadgets lifestyle, so bringing them out for physical activities was vital. “It is also a great time to meet and see first-hand Mr Bai in action and also a chance to inspire my children how Mr Bai persisted through hardships to become a professional rugby player,” she said.
Eldest daughter , Hannah Matavesi, 15, was thankful to Mr Bai and her mother for the opportunity to train in the sport.
Ms Matavesi, who is a former national netball under-21 rep, said the tag rugby session allowed her children to work on their quick thought process.
Another Parent, Sefeti Varea, was there to support his nine-year-old son, Fereti Varea.
The 45-year-old said his son’s passion and love for the sport encouraged him to wake up early to prepare for the big day of fun and rugby.
“Not every child will be academically competent, so training and teaching them about rugby and promoting love for sports could open the door for a career in sports,” Mr Bai said.