East Asia-Pacific Archive

Fiji Cricket Association Chairman's

April 24, 2001

Cricket In Fiji Photo © ICC

The last twelve months have been eventful with some interesting and exciting developments.

One of the most significant developments was the appointment of a full- time Operations Manager. After some unexpected immigration delays, Robin Carr finally arrived in Fiji in November and immediately set about his duties with energy, enthusiasm and an ever cheerful nature. Robin comes to us from New Zealand with recent experience in cricket administration. He lived and worked in Fiji in the late 1960's and early 70's so had some idea of the Fiji scene although he would have noticed some major changes over the last 30 years. Robin's presence has taken a lot of the workload off the Executive and has provided the opportunity to look at the longer-term development of cricket in Fiji. He was installed in some temporary office accommodation for the first three months or so but now has permanent office space at FASANOC headquarters in Bau Street, Suva where, rumour has it, he is constantly bumping into netballers and long-legged female high-jumpers. A big vinaka vakalevu Robin for all your efforts and also to your charming wife Kate for cheering you up after a bad day.

Another significant event was Fiji's participation in the inaugural Pacifica Tournament held in Auckland in February this year. This was the first time ever, apart from the South Pacific Games, when all the South Pacific cricketing nations got together, 8 countries in all, to test their cricketing skills against each other. The tournament was a great success with first- class organisation, good weather and a wonderful Pacific atmosphere. Our team performed very well, being beaten in a close Final by a New Zealand Maori team which comprised mostly players with some Provincial experience and beating our close rivals Papua New Guinea in the semi- final for only the second time ever.

Whilst on the question of tournaments, our main focus for this year has been the preparations for the ICC Trophy Tournament being held in Toronto, Canada in late June, early July. There will be a total of 24 countries taking part split into two divisions of 12 countries each and two pools of six countries each within each division. We are in the first division based on our performance in Malaysia in 1997 so will be in with the big boys with every match a tough one. There is a great deal at stake in this Tournament as the top three teams will qualify for the World Cup in South Africa in 2003 and receive greater financial benefits. Our very best wishes go to the players that are finally selected. I am sure they will do Fiji proud.

We are also very honoured to have been invited to host the first ever Under 19 East Asia – Pacific Tournament which is scheduled to be held in Nadi in August and in which Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea and Fiji will take part. The winner will qualify to participate in the Under 19 World Cup which is being held in New Zealand early next year so again there is much at stake. We must make sure that we make a good job of organising the Tournament and ensure that all participants leave Fiji with fond memories.

A great deal of time and effort goes into the preparation of teams for these tournaments. To date we have had three camps/coaching clinics for the National side starting immediately after Easter last year and finishing with one just prior to Pacifica. Another camp is scheduled shortly after the Crompton Cup this year, a further one in May and a final one shortly before the team's departure to Canada. There is also a camp planned for the Under 19 squad in May after the Inter-District Secondary Schools Competition and another one before the August qualifying tournament. These clinics have been run by our national coach Neil Maxwell and by Tim Anderson from Victoria. They have both done a great job and I extend our grateful thanks to them.

We have continued with our development programme over the last twelve months which involves the employment of three full-time development officers Seci Sekinini in Suva, Jone Salele in Labasa and Richard Wotta in Nadi/Lautoka and part-time officers in Lakeba, Moce, Komo and Cicia. This is beginning to show results with more younger players starting to play the game, but there is still a long way to go.

The programme has also included the provision of playing equipment to schools and districts and the installation of artificial turf pitches in Labasa, Lautoka, Nadi, Tubou and Cicia and practice nets in Labasa, Tubou and Suva. A major development is under way at Namaka in Nadi involving the laying of an artificial turf pitch and practice nets but it is taking a little longer than first anticipated. Once completed, it will be the only ground in Fiji dedicated solely to cricket. We intend to continue with this programme of pitch and nets installation, as without decent facilities it is very difficult to improve standards.

Our coaching the coaches programme has also continued with our friend Carl Sharpe conducting two courses last year. We now have well over 150 people who have gone through the Level O course and approximately 20 who have done the Level 1 course. A big thank-you to Carl Sharpe for all his efforts. It is important that we try and keep track of these coaches to ensure that they put into practise what they have learnt.

We are also finally giving some attention to developing umpiring courses, something that is long overdue and very important. With Tony Cooper's able assistance, the New Zealand Test Umpire, Brian Aldridge, is in attendance at this year's Crompton Cup and will be conducting umpiring clinics during his visit. Thank you Brian for sparing us your valuable time. We will also have the pleasure of a visit from Darrell Hair, the Australian Test Umpire, who will be here to familiarise himself with our current set- up and to offer advice and also, hopefully, to assist with some fundraising.

None of all that I have referred to would have been possible without the enormous help of the International Cricket Council (ICC) through its Development Program. The Program involves financial and resource assistance and the employment of a Development Manager for our Region. The Region's first Development Manager was Andrew Eade who has now moved to greater heights at ICC's headquarters in London. He has been replaced by Matthew Kennedy who is currently on his second visit to Fiji. Many thanks to ICC, Andrew and Matthew for all your help and to those visionary gentlemen who established the Program.

Although we have had an eventful year, there are some areas of concern. Our Club competition within the districts has been poor and although the bad weather is somewhat to blame, greater effort must be made to establish healthy and vibrant club competitions for it is this competition that produces our national players. The same can be said about cricket in schools. There must be competition to maintain the boys interest and to improve standards. The rest of the cricket world now has competition at various age levels and this is the way we must go if we are to prosper. We also need to work on the media to try and give us better coverage and a higher profile. Finally, we must try hard to raise further funds through donations or sponsorship as we cannot rely only on ICC's generous funding.

The Board of Control has met regularly over the last year. I wish to thank all Board Members for giving of their time and for their contributions. My thanks also to our National Selectors, Rod Jepsen (Chairman), Ratu Eroni Loganimoce, Tony Cooper and Richard Wotta and to Ratu Semi Seruvakula who so ably managed the Fiji team at the Pacifica Tournament.

© ICC