What They Say About The Fijian Footballers

SYDNEY has taken the 22 tour ing Fijian footballers and their officials to its heart. People who scarcely know what a football looks like are attending their matches, and even crowding in to see them practise. Small children and babes in-arms are held up “to see how the Fijians look.”

Australians, of course, have had a sentimental affection for their own New Guinea natives since the war, and the Fijians are regarded as a bigger and better edition; be sides, some have been heard speak ing excellent English in radio inter views, and that makes them more approachable and less like strange visitors from another planet. Their good manners and simple faith have been played up by the news papers and this makes a great ap peal to citizens of this tough city of rackets where both have been forgotten years ago.

Even if they did not play spec tacular football, most Sydney siders seem to be of the opinion that it is worth the price of ad mission just to be on the same piece of ground as the Fijians and to see them performing their Cibi (war cry to you non-Fijians.) Those Australian Rugby Union officials who, a few months ago, turned thumbs down on the visit of the Fijians because they were doubtful of their drawing power, must now have red faces.

At this writing they have won the first two matches of their tour, and North Sydney Oval and Manly Oval, where they played them, have been packed like sar dine cans.

A crowd of 17,000 saw their first match (on a Saturday) and at its conclusion mobbed the visitors—there was no doubt as to whose side the spectators were on.

The Sydney Morning Herald said: “. . .

The Fijians, big and remarkably fast, battered down the home team to win 21-9.

They pounced on six-foot Australian players, tackling head-high and almost drove them into the ground . . . There was a sensation within five seconds of play when a South Harbour forward was stretched unconscious on the field his misfortune was quickly followed by others but in spite of this the play was clean and good humoured.” * * * At the second, and mid-week match, at Manly, somewhere between 10,000 and 12,000 people squeezed themselves into a football ground which accommodates 5,000 People arrived with their lunch baskets at 9.30 a.m. to make a picnic

of It and local school-children were given a half-holiday. From these two first matches the takings were £3,000 — half the estimated cost of the tour—and the Fijians have not yet played on a large ground. There is not much doubt now about the financial success of the tour. ♦ * ♦ Weather since they arrived has often been freezing, but there has been no rain, skies are blue and the visitors have had the maximum amount of winter sunshine.

But said the Daily Telegraph the day after they arrived: “The Fijians’ skirts went overboard this morning and they dived into suitcases for sweaters and socks to keep out Sydney cold. They appeared at their hotel for breakfast in tracksuits supplied by the NSW police force. A bundle of greatcoats (also supplied by the police, who are the only ones to come up to Fijian footballers size) were rushed to Rose Bay to welcome the Fijians when they arrived last night.” * * * The visitors’ habit of holding prayer meetings and singing psalms has received the full newspaper treatment—so much so that the ungodly are apt to ask them selves when they have time to train or play football. The staff of the hotel where they stay were surprised, we are told, when they said grace before supper, held prayer meetings in the morning and then said grace before breakfast. If they are good ambassadors for Fiji, they are also good ambassadors for the Methodist Church. * * * There has been considerable amazement at the size of the Fijian appetite. It is reported that they eat twice as much as an Australian—which is quite an appetite.

But then, a Fijian footballer represents quite a lot of man. ♦ « * Said the Herald: “The Australians had been warned by their officials not to seize the Fijians by the hair. This par ticularly applied to several fuzzy-haired players, including Malakai Labaibure, 29-year-old ex-policeman, who stands 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 15 stone 7 lb.” * * * Fijian off-the-field activities have so far included placing a wreath on the Cenotaph, lay-preaching, church socials.

Lord Mayoral and Mayoral receptions, the Rugby Union ball, visits to Sydney beaches, the Blue Mountains, the Far West Children’s Home. They have sung on the radio and been interviewed at thb ABC sports show. * * * Fijian tongue-twisting names have not proved as troublesome as anticipated be cause Mr. Les Martin, team manager, has supplied broadcasters, etc., with a how to-pronounce-it guide. The results might not altogether please Fijian purists but for local purposes they do well enough.