Fiji has

to clear a $3,200 hurdle

Fiji has a big hurdle to get over before it can send a team to the Commonwealth Games in Christ church in February—paying a South Pacific Games debt of $3,200. If that hurdle is cleared safely there is still the question of raising finance for the current team.

But Fiji will not be unrepresented for three of the chosen team—Seru Gukilau, Tony Moore and Eliki Nukutabu—will be in New Zealand anyway. The Fiji Amateur Athletic Association named 14 athletes and two officials for the trip. Apart from the three already mentioned they are Samu Bulai, Sakaraia Tuva, Samuela Yavala, Rick Kermode, Sitiveni Rabuka, Aca Simolo, Mereoni Vibose, Eleanor Phillips, Miriama Tuisorisori, Torika Cavuka and Laisa Taga. The manager is Mr Tony Moore sen, and Viliame Saulekaleka has been named as coach.

Mr Derek Robinson, president of the FAAA, said naming of the athletes did not necessarily mean all would definitely go. Athletes could be dropped on the basis of per formance at any time up to depar ture. Three of the team, Tuisorisori, Kermode and Yavala, were overseas and were chosen on performances abroad.

Most of the team are track athletes. Among the men, Rabuka and Moore, who is a track athlete also, are the only field event men.

Of the women, Vibose and Tuisori sori will probably compete in the field events.

The team of eight boxers will have 1956 Olympic Games boxer, Hector Hatch, as manager, and Wate Naca gilevu as assistant manager. An Auck lander, Murray Goodwin, will be trainer and coach.

The team is: Salusali Viavia (light heavyweight); Manueli Bese (middle weight); Vai Afu (light-middle weight); Inoke Cakautini (welter weight); Sakiusa Vaka (light-welter weight); John Heritage (lightweight); Jioji Robo (bantamweight); Wili Tevita (flyweight) Timoci Belo (light-heavyweight) and Joseva Keresi (welterweight) have been named as reserves.

Among the swimmers, two girls in the national squad have equalled the qualifying standard for the games.

They are Lyndal Probert (67.4 sec for the 100 metres freestyle) and Julie Murphy (1 min 27 sec for the 100 metres breaststroke).