From Fiji Sun Online (19 November 2015)

We Are Still Surviving: Rotuma

by Anasilini Ratuva

The 18 athletes from Rotuma are still confident of a good performance in the 2015 FMF Chow games which
begins tomorrow despite financial constraints.

Team manager Viliame Rafaele said their budget for the game was $12,000 but they only managed to
fundraise $5000 which brought the team to the capital city.

"Finance is always major challenge that we face back in the island, our budget was $12,000 but we only
collected $5000 but we are in Suva for two weeks now and we are still surviving.

"We have faith in God and also the Rotuma community in Suva who has been supporting the team since we
got here, the Rotuma community is just bringing in food for these young athletes and today (yesterday)
brought in two bags of chicken," Rafaele said.

The coaches were also forced to cut down the squad from 36 to 18.

"Back in the island these athletes only train on Saturday and the weekdays they follow their training
programme given to them," he added.

The 18 athletes are from three primary schools which includes Malha'a Primary School, Motusa Primary and
Christ The King Primary School. Four athletes will be participating in the field events and 14 on tracks.

Rotuma are the reigning champion in the U14 girls 400 m events and also last year they were bronze
medalist in the U14 boy's shot put and U12 girl's soft ball.