Kaiviti Silktails Chairman Petero Civoniceva was invited to be a part of the Australia Fiji Business Council (AFBC) expert panel for their Sports Diplomacy event held in conjunction with the Sports Diplomacy Advisory Council and Griffith University.
“The Silktails is a great example of a successful program supported by DFAT funded PacificAusSports supporting young grassroots Fijian players access pathways to career development in Australia.” said Zane Yoshida, VP of the AFBC.
At the event, Civoniceva spoke about the important and positive impact the Kaiviti Silktails EDP Program has on local Fijian players and Fijian sport.
“A big Vinaka Vakalevu to the Australia Fiji Business Council, in conjunction with the Australian Sports Diplomacy Advisory Council and Griffith University, Queensland for the invitation to be a panelist discussing Supporting Pacific Participation in Brisbane Olympics 2032.” said Civoniceva.
“It was great to give an insight to the audience on the journey of our Kaiviti Silktails RLFC journey so far. I discussed how our Silktails Elite Development Pathway (EDP) program has been an absolute game changer in providing locally based athletes a chance to train in an Elite High Performance environment.”
“I discussed the importance of providing locally-based athletes the best training environments to train in whilst based in Fiji to enable them to compete on a global level.”
“I informed the audience of our Silktails Executive Director – Stephen Driscoll’s decision to focus on the building of infrastructure and resources to provide the Kaiviti Silktails RLFC a base in which to build from.”
“The Silktails currently have 6 EDP gyms (Lautoka COE, Sigatoka Methodist School, RKS High School, FNRL Headquarters, USP Gym, Ra High School, an upcoming EDP fit out at Ratu Navula High School, Nadi and we are currently looking at sites in Vanua Levu in 2023), for our players to train in.”
“The creation of our EDP Gym network has enabled our players the ability to train for free within their local communities. It has also been wonderful to see other Fijian sports reach out to us to utilise our facilities like the Fiji Drua, Fiji Netball, Athletics and Boxing.”
