Fiji are enjoying a ‘tough pool; Fiji Sevens national coach Osia Kolinisau is drawing on the experience of two-time Olympic gold medalist Jerry Tuwai to mentally prepare his players for the daunting task of completing a hat-trick of gold medals in France.
Fiji are enjoying a ‘tough pool’ as they aim for a 3rd straight gold medal.
Tuwai and veteran Waisa Nakuku are helping the team immensely in developing junior players as they head to Pool C in Paris where they will face hosts France, USA and Uruguay, according to Coliniso, who won the gold medal in the inaugural sevens tournament. Rio Games.
Fiji won seven gold medals at two Olympic Games in Rio and Tokyo and put enormous pressure on Kolinisai to emulate in Paris.
In a final training session before the squad was announced, the head coach told local media: “We’ve picked their brains over the last few weeks and we’ve also had to share some of the secrets of playing with them. To help other players improve their team.
“We’re trying to share what it takes for them to operate at that level. . I think it is good that we are placed in a tough pool because from there we can adjust and measure our performance at the beginning of the competition. Fiji are enjoying a ‘tough pool’ as they aim for a 3rd straight gold medal.
“Seeing hosts France in our pool reminds me of Rio. In one of our pool games we faced the hosts Brazil and they went all out, even harder than we expected. So we look forward to facing France, who will undoubtedly go all out and we must be ready for that.
Kolinissau was greatly encouraged by his squad’s performance at the HSBC SVNS Madrid final where they finished third. ”
“I see the players playing together as a team to achieve what we want to achieve rather than individuals. “Fiji are enjoying a ‘tough pool’ as they aim for a 3rd straight gold medal.
Gareth Baber, consultant national program manager 7s and former Tokyo Olympic Games gold medal winning coach, is helping the team prepare for a third gold medal. Fiji are enjoying a ‘tough pool’ as they aim for a 3rd straight gold medal.
Kolinisu added: “You win tournaments with defense and that’s something we want to get back. The players are aware of what is required of them, play at a high level.
The young players in the squad have gained confidence and experience after finishing. Madrid SVNS; they are against opponents Gained experience playing as a cohesive team. Fiji are enjoying a ‘tough pool’ as they aim for a 3rd straight gold medal.“Our lotu (spirituality) is important to us as Fijians – always putting God first; Our culture as a team requires players to be mentally tough.”