|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NAVY RETAINS VOLLEYBALL TITLE
The Republic of Fiji Military Force inter unit volleyball competition was held on Wednesday February 23, 2005. The tournament was held at the Old National Gymnasium and was opened by Lieutenant Commander Bower of the RFNS. “We are gathered here not only to compete in the game of volleyball but to achieve a commander’s directive which is to maintain our physical fitness” Commander Bower said. “You looked great in your unit colors and you are all ambassadors of your units. I believe that you have all come prepared to try and wrestle away the trophy from the Navy,” he told the players. The teams were divided into two pools of four teams. The finalist from last years tournament was the top seeded in both the pools. In pool one was the Navy, FTG, HQ LFC and the Engineers. In the second pool was the TF Brigade, 3FIR, LSU and HQ RFMF.
In pool one the Navy showed that they have been consistent with their games when they won all their games and cruise through to the semifinal. In pool two the first game between TF and 3 FIR went to the wire and even the barking of TF coach Sgt Kesi Ledua could not help his team as they finally bowed out 2-1 to the 3 FIR side led by experience Pte Manasa Nukuvou. The first semi final was between last years finalist Navy and TF. The TF side tried all their tricks but was bundled out by Navy with two straight sets. In the second semi final the FTG side could not contain the 3FIR team and they also went down 0-2.
In the finals the Navy team did not waste any time as they used their tall players well and won the first set 25-23.The 3FIR team worked on their defence and came out with fast balls that rattled the Navy side and they took out the second set 25-20. Wrong option by the 3FIR cost them the final set and gave the champion Navy team another year to keep the trophy. The tournament was also to select the best players for the coming Easter volleyball championship in March.
Commanding Officer Engineers Lieutenant Colonel Netani Rika closed the tournament and congratulated the winning team. “What we have seen today is a common goal. We should be very proud of our institution and what we represent. We should work towards improving on our attitudes and will to win. ” he said. He added, in whatever field we are in, whether in sports or in the operation theater or where ever and what ever we do, we should always aim for excellent. “We should be patriotic in our approach and be honest with ourselves, because excellent is not an easy target to archive. To all of you that have been selected to represent the institution we wish you all the success.” Lt Col Rika said. He concluded by quoting from the book of Psalms 127:1 ‘If the Lord does not build the house the work of the builder is useless.’ Let me cement it with the truth he continue, if the lord does not build the house the work of the builder is useless. Let us built on this foundation where God is the master builder.
|
 |
|
