THE winners of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards at the FBC Suva Volleyball Association awards night on Saturday said youths must make best use of their sporting talents.
MVP Female of the Year was Marist Saints utility Torika Nuku while the male award went to Jiujiua Koroi of Tamavua Celtics.
Nuku, 28, of Galoa in Kadavu, who has been playing for the national side since 2007, said she was shocked to hear her name called out.
"There are a lot of other girls out there who have been performing well in the competition and it was a shock for me to hear my name announced," the former Suva Grammar School student said.
Koroi, 33, of Matuku in Lau, has been playing volleyball since he was 16 and said the 2012/2013 season might be his last.
"I feel honoured to be rewarded for my efforts in the 2011/2012 season and I can't confirm if the coming season will be my last or no," he said.
Both players emphasised the need for youths to be actively involved in sports.
"Everyone was born unique and with a special talent in sport so they must make use of it," Nuku said.
"To the youths out there, not only of Suva but all over Fiji, please make the best use of your sporting abilities," she said.
Koroi, also a former SGS student, said sports would help youths stay out of trouble.
"The thing with sports is that you need fitness for it and to be fit you need discipline and commitment to achieve it and that is how sport makes good citizen out of youths," he said.
"And to the youths, please set a long-term goal, either sport or academic or career wise and remain committed to it until you achieve it."