The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka has labelled the recent corruption allegations made against the Fiji Rugby Union by the overseas-based players as extremely sad.
Speaking to SUNsports yesterday Gavoka, a former FRU chairman revealed the difficulties faced by the board of directors and staff members at Rugby House.
He was reacting to recent media interview with the Daily Mail by former Flying Fijians captain, Waisea Nayacalevu, on their plan to boycott last year’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against England due to unpaid bonus and corruption at FRU.
He was backed by senior players of Semi Radradra, Levani Botia, Meli Derenalagi, Jiuta Wainiqolo and Albert Tuisue.
The senior players also called for the re-moval of the interim Trustees and staff members at FRU.
“Everyone involved in rugby is a very honourable person,” Gavoka said.
“It is mostly a volunteer kind of undertaking. I was (FRU) chairman, volunteer and you don’t get paid for it. Everyone involved in rugby administration is giving a lot of his or her time and effort.”
Gavoka was saddened by these senior players’ allegation that it is their (administration and board’s) fault that they are having these problems.
“Rugby is a very costly sport and for Fiji, it’s played mostly by the iTaukei and we don’t have the resources.
“However, we still want to be playing against England and France. Knowing how poorly resourced we are, we should under-stand that we cannot be like the English players, the French players, and all of that.”
Gavoka said that money is the perennial problem with FRU.
“You look at the guys who are running the show today, they are all honourable people. People who gave so much to rugby.
“I did it for two years but all I got was knocks and all that stuff. We didn’t get paid. So we must understand that.”
The Deputy PM said if we want to play rugby internationally, it’s going to be very costly.
“We should, you know, give this guy (Peter Mazey) a lot more respect. You talk about sponsorship but companies will be sponsor-ing a small market like Fiji. So, you cannot unless we’ve have a big domestic market in Fiji.
“We are lucky that Fiji Water and Fiji Airways are coming into the scheme of things now but always, money is a problem.
“It is just a simple reality for us in Fiji. We don’t have the resources to run rugby the way people want it to be run.
“We are a poor country, we are poor people. I want that to be communicated. I’m very certain. All these guys, because they play in France, they play in England, they think that (way).”
Gavoka said the stark reality is that people used to come to work to FRU on Fridays not knowing whether they’re going to be paid or not.
“I was chairman, I looked at their faces, I used to feel bad, you know. I don’t know but that’s the reality of all that,” he added.
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