World Footy News

AFL Fiji is still relatively young, but, the mainstream coverage in the Fiji Times – “Great Talent” continues.

In October 2009, AFL FIJI held a Schools Carnival at Corpus Christi, Suva. Four secondary colleges competed in the 15-a-side competition. Laucala Bay defeated Suva Grammar and received the David Rodan Cup. The carnival also served as a selection process for the the Oceania Cup training squad.

Andrew Cadzow, AFL South Pacific Manager, has been in Fiji again helping to arrange the 2010 instalment of the David Rodan Secondary School AFL competition. It will again be held in October.

Particular attention is given to current listed senior players David Rodan, Alipate Carlise and Nic Naitanui. It should be acknowledged that Carlise and Rodan, teammates at Port Power, have been working together since December 2007 both to establish AFL-Fiji and to promote the game in their homeland.

Extra attention is given to Bulldogs listed international rookie Inoke Ratu and to up and comers Dylan Wolfgramm and Solomoni Loki who forced their way into the Pacific Under 16 team this year.

Cadzow stressed that since Fiji making its ‘AFL debut’ last year, that they had produced phenomenal performances, such that “These two blokes (Wolfgramm and Loki) were selected for the South Pacific team just on their first year of playing the sport. It shows the type of talent we have in Fiji”.

Cadzow continued, forecasting an AFL Fiji academy. “I think AFL can be quite competitive to sports like rugby union and league in the near future. We will build an academy to train players in a few years time so we hope to lift the standard of the game here.”

Alas, the article sits beside a thumbnail photo of Solomon Islands vs Tahiti in the Oceania Futsal Championship.