Cricket Fiji’s new development manager, Saiasi Fuli says he is excited about cricket joining the Fiji National Sports Commission’s (FNSC) Sports Outreach Programme.
For the first time a delegation will embark on a week-long programme to Kadavu.
The aim of the programme is to travel into rural areas of Fiji and introduce sports – many of which might not have even been heard of before – to youth groups.
The FNSC sends out two development officers from each sporting organisation to teach our youth the basics of their respective sports. The FNSC usually holds approximately half a dozen of these sports outreach trips a year.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to go and spread the gospel of cricket,” Mr Fuli said.
“What’s even better for us is that we have managed to run a kids cricket programme in Kadavu at the same time as the Sports Outreach Programme with the youth groups.”
Cricket Fiji will be sending three senior development officers - Joeli Mateyawa, Iniasi Cakacaka and Kitione Tavo. – to Kadavu, along with the delegation of officials from the FNSC and other development officers from fellow Fiji sporting organisations.
Whie in Kadavu, one development officer will be based with the main group working on the Sports Outreach Programme with youth, while the two others will run a kids cricket programme, aimed at getting school-aged children involved in cricket as a part of their regular curriculum.
“We are lucky that we will be able to run two programmes at the same time – and we will be the only sport to do so,” Mr Fuli said.
“I hope Cricket Fiji can grow so popular on the southern Fiji island that a team from Kadavu can join in some of the competitions held on Viti Levu next year.
“We hope the kids cricket programme in schools is popular, so Kadavu can enter teams in the primary and secondary school competitions.”
Fuli said that Cricket Fiji hoped to reach between 10 and 12 primary and secondary schools during their week tour of Kadavu.
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