From Fiji Times Online (17 October 2015)

Satarua works on building sports talent

by Shalveen Chand

FOR the Satarua Sports and Social Club, the Rotuma Games this weekend means more than just competition.

Club executive Sefeti Fapiana said the club's target this year was to build on the talents and provide them with that opportunity to advance or showcase their skills in various sports at the Rotuma Games.

"We continue to stay true to the objectives of the games, doing our best to foster and strengthen community togetherness through sporting competitions under the umbrella of the Fiji Rotuma Sports Council," he said.

"Our members could very well use the Rotuma Games platform to advance their talents at national and possibly international levels. Some are already at that level."

Satarua would be competing in seven sports which included netball, mixed netball, volleyball men's, women's and mixed, rugby and touch rugby The team started training on August 1.

Fapiana said the numbers since picked up and there was quite a young bunch of talents that were looking forward to the tournament.

"Some of them are playing at the Rotuma Games for the first time, others have been with the club since it started so there's a good mix of experienced and fresh and enthusiastic players," he added.

The club formed in 1991 had shown real teamwork in working together to collect funds to ensure a successful Rotuma Games this year.

"For a club as young as we are, finance is one of our challenges but the unwavering support and commitment from our members in Fiji and abroad, elders, parents, guardians, and a few business houses we have reached out to in the past few years have helped us a lot," Fapiana said.

"Just this week, we were hit with the sad news of the passing of one of our biggest supporters, Mrs Kafmanu Tigarea. She is the mother of our club president Carlos Tigarea, who had always been working behind the scenes to push us to excel.

"The family's loss is the club's loss and we will pay tribute to her during our participation at the games."

The day's program starts at 8am while the competition kicks off at 8:30.

© Fiji Times Ltd.