Fiji Football squad selection
Nilesh Lal, Suva
The Fiji football national coach, Frank Farina, has caused a huge uproar on social media following his naming of the national squad to play the touring Malaysian side next Sunday.
While a lot of optimism surrounded Farina’s appointment as national coach, his first outing as the national coach during the recent OFC Nations Cup has been a disaster, resulting in Fiji sliding further down the FIFA rankings chart from its already embarrassing position.
A main reason for this frustration was that fans felt that Farina did not select the best players to represent the country, resulting in a national team less capable than was possible.
The focus on players from a certain district prompt questions of whether there is undue interference from the top.
In Farina’s latest selection, not a single player from the Northern districts of Labasa and Dreketi has been selected, despite the former reaching the semi finals of the Fiji FACT.
In contrast, seven players from a certain low performing district have been called up. Interestingly, four of these are defenders selected from their performance in three matches where they conceded four goals (only one other team conceded more than 4 goals).
Therefore, the core of Fiji’s defence this Sunday will be from a team with a relatively weak defence. While the selection largely defies logic, we remain hopeful that Farina has a plan to bring glory.
Congrats MOB
Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi
Nothing remains the same in life specifically with commercial developments and progress, the MOB, Marist Brothers High School, PTA and the School Board and Management would have weighed the pros and cons of their development plan which should be of utmost benefit to MBHS’ future existence, the surrounding community and neighbourhood, daily commuters, the general public and the business community.
If the shopping mall will create employment for our thousands of school leavers why not, the developers will have already complied with all our government’s relevant regulatory authorities including an EIA if applicable and will have respectively obtained their permits accordingly.
It is their right; the Marist Brothers can do whatever they feel like with their property and prime real estate for as long as they are not encroaching into these objectors land, this lot will soon get tired of their rhetoric.
Late last year some residents of Lautoka city were jumping up and down objecting to their last breath as if the world was about to end during the public consultations for the proposed PMegji Hotel Development site at Shirley Park, the majority of us supported it for the same reason and that development is already on the roll which will benefit everyone and the city of Lautoka.
The bigger picture should always be about our country but it should not be just about some few and this smart business project will positively contribute to our economy.
I also take note from the Fiji Sun report of June 17 on Page 10 that some of those objecting may all be feeling very insecure from the healthy competition your development will bring into the fore or will it force most of them to upgrade some of those 200-year-old buildings still standing to date at Flagstaff. The building should be condemned.
But hey, don’t you all feel the new buildings when completed will be beautiful, it brings in something new, a total overhaul of the area, it will be iconic, a modern new face lift for Flagstaff and most importantly the development will take commercial competition to another level, but please I beg to don’t forget to give the old boys and the college of knowledge “Marist Club” a complete totally new make up too.
This is a milestone achievement from this great institution and it is a credit to all those many good souls and leadership brains that were cultured and nurtured at one time in Marist, they simply are just giving back part of their achievements to the very school that was responsible for moulding them to become responsible productive proud Fijian leaders of our nation.
I do hope other schools can emulate and learn from the MOB wisdom, wishing your project every success. Go Red Fire; go get it because that is an excellent commercial business decision.
The Z Factor
Norman Yee, Nadi
It is so sad to hear that ‘Ice’ has been left out of the team due to ‘chronic Injury’. He had been a tower of strength for the team and support to the captain.
No doubt Ben will have in mind to improve our ball retention at kick offs which seemed sporadic at times. Hope we have standby kickers to Ravouvou as well, since we now have a kicking coach.
A strategy to prevent the ‘Z Factor’ occurring at critical moments is a must since in Rio we have that one chance to win a gold. Losing focus even for a second to be beaten by Kenya, Samoa, or South Africa, etc, is not an option for us. We’ll be fasting and praying for Ben, the boys, the management and the coaching team that all will go well during training and the best will be selected to do us proud.
Go for Gold, Fiji!
God and nature
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa, Canada
Dushah Pockvigum attempts to throw our way of belief that God has no shape. That nature has no stationary shape and because God is everywhere, God and nature is all that matters (FS 19/6).
In his belief system, prayer does not exist as no one cares because to him, nature is not about words but it’s about existence.
For us Christians, we believe that the Word, who existed with God and is also God, was the active agent representing the Godhead in the creation of nature including humanity. (John 1:1-3)
The Word spoke the world and nature into existence but made and shaped man from the dust of the ground in the image of God and breathed into him the breath of life.
We humans are moral beings, knowing what is right and wrong because we have a moral God who has given us a set of moral laws to enjoy life in.
Before the Word became flesh and blood to redeem humanity, He was a Spirit and talked with Adam and Eve face to face, before they chose to believe in the deceiver and disbelieve the Creator.
The Bible is full of stories where people talked to God through prayer and Him answering prayer. Even today, Christians will testify to daily answers to prayer when one prays to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ.
Our individual lives will reflect how we view God and while those who don’t talk to their God will feel like He is like an all powerful one way up high on His throne; those who have a loving intimate relationship with Him will love conversing with Him in prayer and listening to His word.
The Word who became flesh to redeem us, has taken to heaven the same glorified body He had while on this earth to be forever identified with humanity.
God has done everything to save us, but He still respects our individual choices to decline the wide open door of salvation and eternal life He has opened for us.
Man that time forgot
Amrit Singh, Nausori
One of the sevens best at his time was Semisi Nayevo.
Around two metres in height he was a joy to watch during the Serevi era. He won restarts with ease during 2005/2006 world sevens series and darted towards try lines fending off defenders like sponges.
Those were the skills, precision and power that our sevens team at that time had, with a player like Semisi Nayevo.
He never smiled during restarts but only had an eye for the oval ball.
A beast of a man and if he didn’t win the ball then he did knock it back for players like William Ryder or Vucago to run to the try line.
Fiji sevens would be blessed if he was still young and could play at the Rio Olympics. The current team lacks the player of Nayevo’s calibre.
Watching him play during my primary school days was just fantastic.
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj