Funds shortage

Sports Briefs

Brawl mars tournament

THERE was an all-in brawl between the Tonga and American Samoa soccer teams at the Oceania Polynesian Cup in Apia in late November.

The match was called off as a result of the brawl which erupted during the second half when American Samoa was leading four-nil.

Police had to intervene to quell the fight after the Tongan goalkeeper attempted to kick an opponent in the mouth.

The match, which was awarded to American Samoa, left Tonga without a win in the tournament. Tonga earlier lost to Tahiti and drew with Western Samoa.

Favourites Tahiti and Western Samoa (led by former rugby representative Lalani Koko) were to have played the tourna ment final after the Tonga-Western Samoa game, but a freak thunderstorm postponed the match.

A win for either team will give them the opportunity to make the qualifying rounds for the 1998 World Cup in France.

Funds shortage jeopardises preparations

FIJI’S preparations for the South Pacific Games are already beginning to feel the pinch of reduced funding from their government.

Plans for training camps, getting overseas coaches to con duct clinics in Fiji and sending teams abroad have been put on hold because of a lack of funds.

Sports officials say if they do not get money to activate their preparations for the Games soon, chances are Fiji would fin ish at the bottom of the medals table in Tahiti in August.

Fiji’s Finance Minister Berenado Vunibobo cut allocations for sports from US$2.4 million to $832,000 in November’s budget.

The Fiji Amateur Sports Association National Olympic Committee had asked for an additional $568,000 for the Games but is yet to receive a response from the government.

Fiji’s Vakalalabure “yellow”?

AUSTRALIAN boxer Shannan Taylor has described Fiji’s pro fessional boxing scene as a joke. Taylor’s scathing comment followed Fijian Tevita Vakalalabure’s failure to turn up for a world welterweight elimination contest at Fiji’s National Gymnasium on December 2.

As he flew out of Fiji on December 4, Taylor vowed he would not return to fight in Fiji for “any amount of money, ever”. He said it was unfortunate his first trip to Fiji would also be his last.

Fans booed when it was announced Vakalalabure would not be fighting. Taylor said there was no medical certificate pro duced and “I don’t know if he was scared or yellow”

18 teams so far for Fiji Sevens

CANADA and Uruguay have confirmed their participation in the Third Fiji International Sevens scheduled for March 10 and 11.

Their participation brings to 18 the number of teams taking part in the two-day tournament.

Fiji Rugby Football Union’s administrative officer, Tevita Ratuva, says they are looking at a 24-team competitive format.

Most of the countries participating are viewing FIS as a build-up to the crucial Hong Kong Sevens.

Countries playing for the first time in Fiji are Singapore, Thailand and Papua New Guinea. The Australian Fijians are also competing for the first time.

Other teams are from Australia, New Zealand, Western Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Japan, New Zealand Fijians, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.