26 Jun, 2019

Location: Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori

The President of Fiji Footfall Association, Mr. Rajesh Patel

Chief Executive Officer of Nausori Town Council

Chief Executive Officer – Fiji Football Association, Mr Mohammed Yusuf

President and Officials of Rewa Football Association, the hosting venue for this tournament

National and District Officials; and Coaches

Operations Manager – Inkk Mobile

Players, Spectators, Media Officials

Ladies and Gentlemen

I thank the Fiji Football Association for inviting me to officiate at this tournament that you all eagerly await every year.

Let me first congratulate the members of TEAM FIJI for their excellent achievement at the recently concluded Pacific Games held in Samoa.

I also take this opportunity to congratulate Fiji men and women’s football teams for winning bronze medals.

Ladies and Gentlemen

I welcome you all to the 40th Battle of Giants tournament. This is an event, which started in 1978 and held since then, except in 1987.

Battle of the Giants tournament has been a much-awaited sporting event, as it brings together talented teams and individuals from the various districts, to display their skills and abilities at the national level.

I understand that this is one of the four major national level tournaments where district level premier teams compete and vie for the coveted trophy and prize money.

This tournament, like others, is made possible through generous sponsorship –in this case by Inkk Mobile. I thank them for their active support, as this complements what the Government provides overall to sports in Fiji.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Despite being a small country, Fiji has done very well in selected sports such as Golf –reaching number 1 status; Rugby Sevens – Olympic Gold Medalist, and a World leader in the HSBC Rugby 7s series and also making a mark in the 15’s Rugby, to name a few. This without a doubt, has put Fiji on the international map.

In football, we have in the past surprised teams like Australia and done relatively well in the Pacific region.

However, I want to say to the football officials and players at all levels in this country that we have not been consistent with our performance. The talent in football is in abundance but we have not reached where we should be.

Ladies and Gentlemen

When we look at our ranking in the world, there is more needed to be done to uplift our status. Football started in Fiji many decades ago and we are still struggling to make a mark in the international arena.

I therefore urge FFA to seriously look at its strategy and targets and work towards a determined goal to take football to another level, and to improve our ranking globally.

At least, Fiji’s aim should be higher than few of its competitors from the Pacific. Take a step, which incrementally contributes to uplifting the standard of Fijian football.

We must create an environment in which we identify talent, nurture these talents and set targets to ensure players and officials connected to football know clearly, what we are trying to achieve.

I therefore urge and challenge the FFA to work towards further enhancing standard of football in Fiji. We may be good but “good is not good enough”.

We need to be recognised internationally and that should be our goal.

Ladies and Gentlemen

Fiji is well positioned to benefit from the amazing talents we have. We have football players who have become brand ambassadors of Fiji in the tourism, trade and investment frontier. Our very own national team captain Roy Krishna is a good example. We all know his achievements in the A-League and his success in joining a new club in India.

Another good example is our female footballer Sofi Diyalowai, who has been called in for trials in France. Then we have players like Scott Wara and Nicholas Prasad, who are playing in top clubs abroad.

This reflects the effort put in by the FFA and the districts to provide opportunities to our sportsmen and women to be employed abroad.

Recently, I read in the papers that some players were reprimanded for indiscipline. This raises an important question on the attitude of some players who disregard discipline and bring disrepute to their district their coach, to their parents and to their fans.

If you ask any sports person, they will tell you the key to success, is discipline. Discipline is always number one on the list.

Rightly so. Discipline sets the foundation of any sport. It build sports persons’ character to help them set their mind to achieve their goals.

It is important that players when selected to play at any level, must understand the huge investment that football clubs, FFA, private sector and Government makes for the betterment of football or any sport for that matter.

Ladies and Gentlemen

I acknowledge the support private sector provides to football and other sports through tournament sponsorship. However, at the district levels, the private sector has not been so forthcoming in providing support through sponsorship.

Perhaps there are restrictions by the parent body, which excludes district level sponsorships other than those who are major sponsors at national level. FFA should assist districts to secure sponsorship as well.

While still on sponsorship, the Fijian Government in the 2019-2020 national budget announced 150% tax deductions for a minimum cash contribution of $15,000 to sports club.

I encourage the private sector to take advantage of this opportunity and assist clubs around the country. Your support will go a long way, in developing sports in Fiji.

Ladies and Gentleman

Finally, I thank the players and spectators for their love for football and commend the FFA and district associations for their enthusiasm and commitment. Play and compete hard and fairly, and may the best team win.
With those words, it gives me great pleasure to now declare the 2019 Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants Tournament, open.

Vinaka Vakalevu, Dhanyabaad, Thank You