Family remembers ADF conducts training former Fiji 7s rep
THE family of former Fiji 7s player Akuila Nawerecagi will always remember him.
Nawerecagi, who was part of the Fiji 7s squad in 2008 where he played together with the Emosi Vucago, Neumi Nanuku, Tomasi Mawi, Etonia Naba, Vereniki Goneva and Setefano
Cakau, died in a road accident last Friday.
Speaking on behalf of his brother Ratu Vilitati Rokovesa said he would surely miss his little brother.
Akuila is the second youngest of six siblings and he hails from Nabutautau Village in Navosa and has maternal links to Nadrau Village in the interior of Navosa.
He said when their parents died, Akuila was still in primary school, and his siblings helped raised him.
“He’s full of enthusiasm, his very passionate about his work, he works diligently and he does everything to the very best of his ability.
“We will miss him so much.”
He said they received the news of his death from his fellow players in France.
“We hoped that he will come home, but since he is a citizen in France he will be buried there and the other Fijian players over there have reassured us that they do everything for his burial.
“We will have a small gathering to remember him and the life he lived and we pray that God will bless his young family especially his daughters.”
The Fijian winger was found dead after driving his vehicle below a bend on a road between Mercurey and Couches, where he lived with his children, their mother’s place of residence, in Saône-et-Loire.
According to le journal de Saône-et-Loire, the former player had been missing since Thursday night to Friday after leaving his home.
THE Australian Defence Force is conducting a fiveday officials training program in Fiji.
The ADF have partnered with the National Rugby League, Netball Australian, Australian Football League, Federation of International and Sports Medicine Australia to deliver comprehensive sports officials programs for the respective codes over the week.
The program includes accredited training for match officials and support staff including, coaches, referees, sports trainers and strength and conditioning training for players. The training program focuses on the fundamental of sport and healthy lifestyles.
ADF Rugby League Pacific programs representative group captain Jay Clarke highlighted the benefits of the event.
“The program provides strong engagement through the facilitated training programs and builds capacity in officiating and support roles which are in high demand in the Pacific,” he said.
“The training program provides an opportunity to demonstrate the enduring partnership with Fiji, and reinforce our shared values, culture and history through sport.
“Each training package provides practical and theoretical aspects of skills development in officiating and support roles as well as game strategies, nutrition, lifestyle advice and game day preparation for players.”
The program is the sixth in a series of program’s being run in the Pacific following on from a highly successful virtual camp in PNG, Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu over the past two years which have accredited approximately 960 officials in the Pacific. The week of activities will confirm lessons learnt from the Level 1 virtual training program and take participants to the next level of their development.
Training will be conducted out of Albert Park and Vodafone Arena Suva and represents a key contribution to Defense’s enhanced regional engagement activities through sport in the Pacific region.
“The training program will provide a capacity building opportunity for Fiji as presently the local competitions are encountering difficulty in attracting players and ex-players into sporting officials’ roles. The program will consolidate lessons learnt from recent virtual training activities that have already had significant influence in the region. The inclusion of four key sporting codes in Fiji and working with DFAT Pacific Sports Partners reinforces a Whole of Government approach to sport in the Pacific.”
Netball Fiji staff, umpires, coaches, and development officers will be part of the five days training program. The programs are being delivered by ADF in partnership with local and international sporting governing bodies and supported by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces ensuring experts from each code are providing the best training available for the participants.