Fostering Young Talent in Fiji Through the Power of Sponsorship
Every day, 17 year old Vaciseva Bukanidawa travels by truck from her mother’s village of Rewasau to Wainimala Secondary School.
For almost two years, she has been representing her school in the National Rugby League as a key player for the Wainimala Raiders.
Breaking Down Barriers
When the National Rugby League Development Officers visited her school and rugby league was approved as a school sport, this was a turning point for Vaciseva.
Suddenly, this sport was an option for her, the door was open, and she was excited to get stuck in.
It is this passion and commitment that drives Vaciseva to overcome the many obstacles in her path.
There is still a certain stigma around girls playing sports, and particularly girls from the rural villages.
If that doesn’t put them off, they have to contend with a lack of money for kit and equipment, and for travel and food on gamedays.
Even if she is able to borrow some rugby boots from a friend, it can sometimes take Vaciseva two hours to get to school as transport from the village can be unreliable.
But Vaciseva loves it, and she’s good at it.
Her body is well suited to this sport, and she’s passionate about it.
Whatever the barriers, she’s determined to be part of it and to be the best she can be.
This motivation is fuelled by seeing some of her role models, athletes like Lavenia Cauvura, winning bronze medals at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
These women show her what’s possible if you have the talent, the determination, and the opportunity.
A Brighter Future for the Team
Even so, it hasn’t been a smooth road for the Raiders.
The team didn’t perform as well as expected last year, and this was partly due to discipline issues and the culture within the team: there was too much time spent on mobile phones and staying up late at night, showing a certain lack of respect for the coach and manager.
Vaciseva is the only member of that team to have returned for a second year, and this season is looking very different.
There is a much more disciplined culture and the team listens and responds well to their leaders.
But the other big difference has come in the form of sponsorship from Pherrus Financial Services, championing young athletes in Fiji, and particularly women’s sports.
This investment in the league gives the sport more visibility, and more of a profile, and contributes to training and support – particularly for girls from rural villages, like Vaciseva.
Sponsorship has given her and the team more game time to play against some of the most competitive schoolgirls teams in Fiji.
In the 2023 season, Vaciseva’s team only managed to reach the Southeast Zone quarter finals.
This year, thanks to the hard work and determination of the team, and the opportunities and resources made available through sponsorship from Pherrus, the Wainimala Radiers have made it to the National Semi Finals in Nadi.
A Message of Resilience & Perseverance
For Vaciseva, rugby league has given her an outlet for her natural talent and passionate determination, as well as a platform to showcase her skills and understanding of the sport, alongside her studies.
Her message to other young girls who may look to her as a role model, just as she drew inspiration from Lavenia Cauvura, is to develop resilience in the face of setbacks.
To persevere, no matter the obstacles they come up against. To listen to their parents. To pray and have faith.
