Loss to Samoa
Shad Alfaz Ali, Navua
It was shocking to see our team lose to Samoa in highly dramatic fashion having led 19-7 at one point and then 26-7.
Judging by the first- half performance and the demolition of Samoa 24 hours earlier, it was hard to believe the second-half could go so horribly wrong.
While we may say the overseas-based players need more time to gel especially in defence, I still believe they are the real deal in our quest for gold. We cannot replace the prowess of Tuisova, Nakarawa and Nayacalevu.
All the best to Ben and the brigade in the London 7s.
7s rugby
Amenatave Yaconisau, Suva
The lack of imagination and creative play coupled with overconfidence was the mainstay of our warriors in the game against the Samoans in France and maybe England too.
After losing to the great Kenyans in Singapore it’s really difficult to explain our loss to the Samoans. I thought they were going to be hungry whichever team they meet.
But I take off my hat to Samoan captain Faleminga Selesele and the brave Samoan brigade for the greatest upset ever in world sevens. It was a show of guts and spirit all the way.
Down by 26-7 at the break the Samoans were instructed by coach Damien McGrath to put a stop of the Fijian floodgates and not to let his promise down.
Fiji never added any extra point in the entire second half. It was tools down and siesta time, so typical of many games before.
If you think the loss to the great Kenyans in Singapore was disheartening the loss to the Samoans was a cause of disquite to the cheerful Fijian crowd. It was Pacific pride at stake.
Being masters of the game and after thrashing Samoa 42-5 a day earlier we thought it was going to be a cruise in the park all the way. Never to be as charity rugby arrived. It was also obvious with Kenyans loss too.
Having seen on TV to be chatting to coaches of teams we were about to meet is not good.
Nevertheless a bit of humble pie is good for our ego before Rio but losing finals is a great danger for the man we love so much, Ben Ryan, who is leaving us after Rio even if we top the table.
If we keep tooling down and sleep in the finals any team can beat us on the day. This is not good for our merciless but supporting crowd if a balded gutsy person can score a try in the dying moments of the game.
Now we have to ask the gods to be with us in London and Rio.
Go, Fiji go!
Job well done, FijiFirst
Herleen Emily Kumar, Nadi
As a youth, I have observed that the current Government is doing a marvellous job to rebuild Fiji.
With the current issues affecting our economy it has no comparison to what other Governments have done. After the devastation of Tropical Cyclone Winston, the Government has done its best to reach out to the poor and needy in worst-hit areas.
Many have received food rations, housing loans/assistance and also the initiative of the Fiji National Provident Fund to help its members. Despite the destruction caused by Winston many Fijians are fortunate to have some shelter and food to sustain their survival.
It was also a surprising moment for me, as a youth, to see the many international assistance provided by other countries. This indeed shows the relationship our Government has maintained.
All in all let us all be thankful for what we have and stop complaining about small issues.
This is our Government and this is the Government that will lead us to a prosperous and healthy future.
I salute you, sir Bainimarama.
Vinaka vakalevu for the hard work.
Lautoka taxi problem
Narayan Reddy, Lautoka
Most taxis do not operate from their taxi bases around Lautoka, even though they have bases allocated to them.
One cannot find any taxis at Drasa
Vitogo even with a sign which clearly says that it is a taxi base; same can be said about a particular club in Lautoka where taxi permits and a base was made available but no taxis can be seen at anytime.
I was also informed about a particular shop in Tomuka whose owner has given many base letters to taxi owners and collect fees every month from them but the taxis are never parked at the allocated base.
This is corruption because the base permit is given for these taxis to operate from a particular area and once it’s approved the taxi’s all runaway to town, no wonder you see private and illegal taxi business thriving in Lautoka.
It’s about time LTA did something about this situation or maybe the taxi union can give us a better explanation?
Good teacher
Wise Muavono, Lautoka
Doing some research I came across this on the internet.
A good teacher does not make others look small (humiliate them).
A good teacher laughs with you, not at you as he sees his own early stumbles in your present ones; rather than tries to hide them, so he appears superior to you now (ashamed of his past).
A good teacher tries to draw out of you what you know, what you can discover or what you can do now; he does not try to overwhelm you with his own knowledge or abilities
A good teacher doesn’t rest on his own laurels (isn’t lazy or negative) but pushes himself to learn new things as well as encourages others to do likewise. wHe encourages you to do your best. He doesn’t discourage you from trying, seeing you as a rival for his crown.
He doesn’t encourage others to bully you or do so himself (controls himself, not others).
He doesn’t believe in elitism but equality of souls, all struggling to get things right, not perfectionists lost in competition with others but found in self-discovery (aware of what they got wrong, so they can go on to get it right – not stuck in shame of failure in the past but joy of discovery in the present, releasing you into the future through more effort).
He is quiet, patient and tolerant with his students, wanting them to enjoy what he enjoys – the discovery of new lands, new islands of hope.
A good teacher doesn’t complain that you got something wrong; he explains why you got it wrong and compliments you on trying, encouraging you to think about it more, based on the new information/skills he’s given you (Mr Miyagi or Bruce Lee with his pupils in real life).
‘Safety’ at QVS work site
Savenaca Vakaliwaliwa
Delta, BC, Canada
Satish Nakched has brought up a serious safety issue in the way the Indonesian soldiers are working, using bamboo scaffolding secured with ropes and not wearing a safety harness.
I believe that our Fijian authorities should step in and help resolve this issue. On a lighter note, we have seen movies where Asians use bamboos as scaffolds when they build houses, flats or offices a couple levels high. We have seen a lot of martial arts movies and those who have combined it with gymnastics, where people jump and swing on these bamboo scaffolds without it breaking.
QVS students and teachers want the school rebuilt as soon as possible and the Indonesian soldiers know and trust their bamboo scaffold. The last time I was there, the only two level building in QVS was the school office block which had the library on the top floor.
Could the relevant authority look into this issue please?
Feedback: jyotip@fijisun.com.fj