What happened in Dubai
WHAT I thought was going to be a weekend of near heart attack and guzzling of the tropical root juice, turned out to be a thoroughly lacklustre performance by our boys.
The missed tackles and the yellow cards did us in.
Fiji has the speed, the built, the experience, what happened?
While watching the games, I sought of noticed that the boys seemed tired, is it because of over training?
The goose step and the side step we are renowned for was used against us.
We were a disappointed lot at Kava Place.
And when I saw The Fiji Times cartoon (7/12), I said to Ratu and Raj, “Oilei you two still looking for the grounds when we are out in pool play. You two come back and we watch on TV.”
Anyway, I do believe that Fiji will now play like men possessed for the rest of the tournament.
And with the price of kava nowadays, I endured the last basin by myself after all the boys left, I wasn’t going to spill it away. Sigh.
ALLEN LOCKINGTON Kava Place, Lautoka
Where’s the wall
WITH the enormous task of defending titles and personal glory in the new sevens season, the writing was on the wall from the first game.
For many, not making the quarter-finals for the first time is actually graffiti.
The supposed defensive white wall appears to be disjointed dots in which cracks appear at will. Missed tackles has been an eyesore so far.
The plan to put a “red” on yellow cards remains green. Along these, the biggest downfall has been the performance of the forwards.
It is that keyword all over again, consistency. While saying goodbye to Dubai, it is the beginning and all is not lost.
MOHAMMED IMRAZ JANIF Natabua, Lautoka
Anti-Corruption Day
THE United Nations’ (UN) International Anti-Corruption Day aims to raise public awareness of corruption and what people can do to fight it.
It is observed on December 9 each year.
International Anti-Corruption Day is a time for political leaders, governments, legal bodies and lobby groups to work together against corruption work by promoting the day and the issues that surround this event.
On this day anti-corruption advocates organise events to engage the general public to effectively fight against corruption and fraud in communities.
Corruption is an issue that affects all countries around the world.
It can refer to the destruction of one’s honesty or loyalty through undermining moral integrity or acting in a way that shows a lack of integrity or honesty.
It also refers to those who use a position of power or trust for dishonest gain.
Corruption undermines democracy, creates unstable governments, and sets countries back economically.
Corruption comes in various forms such as bribery, law-breaking without dealing with the consequences in a fair manner, unfairly amending election processes and results, and covering mistakes or silencing whistleblowers (those who expose corruption in hope that justice would be served). Be a stand over on this type of practices.
NEELZ SINGH Lami
Amnesia effect
IT is human to forget, especially for politicians. So it was very helpful for Samuela Savu (FT 7/12) to remind us of Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama’s stance on buturaki.
I believe honourable Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had apparently forgotten about that when he talked about the buturaki culture in Fiji in the ABC Q&A held at USP.
I believe Samuela has helped refresh his memory. And ours.
RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Pitiful exit
IT was really sad to witness Argentina claim victory over the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team in our second pool match at the Dubai 7s.
This pitiful loss was the beginning and fateful “doom and humiliating exit” from the Dubai 7s Cup quarter-finals. Not proud at all.
Fiji’s first pool match loss in Dubai in 9 years — one treasured record, tarnished. Sa lia na madua bura du!
Fiji had a rather lethargic and lacklustre performance in the first two pool matches. Indiscipline, again reared its ugly head.
We rather copped yellow in both matches. Our defence was really poor.
Our tackles were quite shameful. Fiji’s 24-14 victory over France was insufficient to see us through to cup quarters.
We needed a minimum 18 point winning margin.
Fiji failed, rather sadly. Fiji must bounce back, though miraculously in South Africa. Can we?
RONNIE CHANG Martintar Nadi
