Womens Sports Center - Episode 13

Ajouté : 2026-05-12

[00:00:04][music] [music] and welcome back to Women's Sports Center. I am Asatv your host and today we're joined by a woman making a powerful impact both in leadership and in sports. She is the minister of information and the first female president of the Kandavo rugby union.

[00:00:38]Please welcome Linda Tumbuya Bulakinda.

[00:00:41]How are you?

[00:00:42]>> Bulaka, it's so nice to join you here in uh for this very important conversation.

[00:00:49]>> I am a bit exhausted right now. I just arrived back last night from the southern rally in Vuna >> where we had a three-day tournament >> from all the tequina zones >> where they all come to uh compete for a spot >> in our extended squad for the skip. So, we've made our selection and I was able to return last night on the boat feeling a little relieved that we've got done that >> and they will start their camp on Tuesday.

[00:01:15]>> Oh, how exciting. Well, thank you so much for being on the show. Um, Linda, um, can you tell us what it meant to you personally to be elected as the first female president of the Kandavo work union?

[00:01:29]So uh in 2023 the um Kandavo provincial council um actually decided that Kandavo rugby will form. So it has been formed by the vanua >> and uh the operational uh group for the Kandavo provincial council or any provincial council is Tambosi Vanua. So all the chiefs come together they make decisions then it's taken up to to the provincial council. So when they made that decision uh we uh had the AGM in 2023.

[00:02:01]>> I didn't even put my name in. I was just excited that this was finally happening.

[00:02:06]>> You know after 23 years when uh Kandavo only had a club >> in Suva and apparently won the escort shield or one of the shields back then.

[00:02:16]Kandavo used to do very well here in Sua but Kandavo rugby had never been formed.

[00:02:21]M >> so Kandavo Rugby is actually the latest addition to FRU >> newly formed. So I am not only the first president of Kandavo Rugby >> but the first female president of any provincial rugby union in Fiji >> which uh for me it is quite an honor >> but I really it's so weird. I just said sure I'll do it because I'm resultoriented. I just want to see this happen for for my [music] province.

[00:02:49]never quite thought about the fact that I was a woman >> but I believe it was the belief of uh our chiefs in the Vanua >> that uh they offered this leadership position to me [music] and I took it with my arms wide open.

[00:03:03]>> Absolutely. How amazing. And and you mentioned um Kand being inactive for many years. What did you see that you believed it could be revived? Well, you just need to look around to all the provincial union teams and even the national teams. We've [music] got a number of Kandavu players in those teams, men and women, you know, who've made their mark [music] and who uh continue to serve uh not only in FRU but in the different unions.

[00:03:33]>> So, I was like, why not? Why not bring together our talent to actually fly the flag for Kandafu and represent Kandafu rugby.

[00:03:42]>> Absolutely. And when you first stepped into the role in December 23, what were your immediate priorities? [music] >> So we as you know when we start off in the provincial union, the women compete in the Randi Cup and the men compete in the Vanua Cup which is the B division.

[00:03:59]So obviously it was our goal to get [music] up to Marramama and skip >> and so and to do it in the first three years. Of course, it was to our pleasant surprise and and [music] a credit to our women that in just the first year they won the the Randi Cup. Yeah.

[00:04:16]>> And advanced to the Marramama Cup in just the second year.

[00:04:19]>> And then of course our men in only the after the second year last year we won the Vanua Cup and they're now in the skipper. So we're within the three years barely two years old we achieved our target. [music] So that was really our immediate target at that time.

[00:04:33]>> So now our target moving forward >> is to stay in the skipper. Yeah.

[00:04:37]>> Uh the women's team went all the way to the semi-finals last year and played >> Suva.

[00:04:42]>> Of course, they drew until that last kick, but it shows the potential. And of course, the women also won the Bosco Trophy uh playing against Nin, which again was a surprise, but it shows the talent >> that our women and men have from Kandav.

[00:04:58]>> Yeah, it was amazing games and I watched those. I played against the the team in the semi-final [music] as well and they >> What a game, huh? Oh my god. So thrilling. It was so thrilling.

[00:05:09]>> And how important was it for you to include women and young people in that vision from the beginning?

[00:05:16]>> Like I said, uh you know, being selected as a woman for me, uh it was a it was I didn't even give it much thought, but then as I as I'm going along [music] and uh serving in the committee as well as uh being able to consult with the Venoa, >> to me, that's the key. And that's the key. And whether you're a man or woman in a provincial rugby union, you must always consult the venu. And I believe that's the key to the success of Kandavo rugby. So far when you have the mana and the blessing of the vanua all the way through the boss vanua to the provincial council meeting, >> uh you'll see the [music] mana and the blessing comes and and I believe in terms of being a woman, I sit at a table of all men. Uh I have a woman secretary and a woman treasurer. So there are three of us in the in the committee, but that's a requirement as well from [music] FRU that at least 30% of your membership uh executive committee must be women.

[00:06:13]>> But sitting in the you know the AGMs and the SGMs of FRU and being the only woman >> uh president sitting there, >> I can see how effective it is when women sit at the table with men >> together because our our leadership style is [music] different but complimentary >> uh to what men bring. And so too much of only women in a space, too much of [music] only men in a space is not good.

[00:06:38]We need that balance. And I believe that's what I brought to the table.

[00:06:41]>> Very true. Absolutely.

[00:06:43]Um what were some of the early challenges you faced [music] in restarting rugby level?

[00:06:53]So for the last 23 years um there have been clubs that have participated in other [music] unions like uh insua rugby of course you know the very famous birdland kandavo rugby team >> and then they became known as the um tackle kandavo rugby club.

[00:07:10]>> So one of the issues that we faced right at the beginning was that kandavo rugby whatever effort was put in was always seen as subacentric. So there were suba players uh the games were only in sua.

[00:07:22]So our biggest challenge which we took on was that we needed this to be driven from the venua. We needed our players to be from Venua. So right from the beginning with the first Venoir cup >> we ensured that we convened the southern rally >> which then made sure which then meant that any player that wanted to play for Kandavo must go back to their tikkina >> or their district. they have to play from the clubs and come through that way to be selected to represent the tikina zone at the southern rally and that way you will get a spot >> in the squad.

[00:07:56]>> So we needed to enforce that and that was very important. [music] That was one of the the strongest point made by the boss Vanua and Kandavo provincial council. We need this to be a vanua team. It must be our players, our young people from Venoa. So we were we were we made sure that happened from the start.

[00:08:12]So the challenge we faced early was actually the logistics. So in our [music] whole budget and expense list, our biggest expense is transport and logistics. So we are the only maritime union.

[00:08:25]>> So of course Lay is yet to form and Lao as well, but Kandavo is the only maritime union and it's got its logistical costs. We have to take the boat down. When we staying over there, all the groceries and everything you buy there costs so much more than in Sua.

[00:08:41]>> So we have to deal with that. So it was really an expense a cost issue but >> we had the support of our fan base. We just called on our fan base in Fiji and all over the [clears throat] world. So thank you to our fan base from all over the world and they did it by tequilas.

[00:08:54]They like okay tina tawuki in Sydney you know tikina ravitaki in the US. So they [laughter] just came on board >> and they said we want this because they they were excited about it and we've just built on that and in [clears throat] the first year we took for the very first time >> a game to the van. Yeah.

[00:09:11]>> So we had the first Bonua Cup game in uh Nam Malata district school in Bonia >> and we had that. Tell you what, we had the people come. So you know when you look at a car park of the national stadium and the cars are full. The whole of Bunicia Bay was full of fiber [laughter] boats just parked like this.

[00:09:29]We actually have a picture of it. I love that >> they all came. They just all stopped and came and watched that day the first game.

[00:09:36]>> And it was so exciting because we had Malo Seu and Navasa in our pool. So you know they're all [laughter] so it was like a we had a big van you know welcome first but being a challenge we turned it into an opportunity and he just took Kandav rugby to the whole world because of that that very that connection van connection between Malua and Nabosa was just strengthened >> because the venu and they brought the chiefs brought them as well.

[00:10:06]>> Wow. They brought them as well to come and you know to come and watch and to meet with so it was not just the meeting of rugby rugby was a platform to bring the vanu and connect the >> yeah how amazing and it's so exciting just to hear the the development and how everything started and we're so excited to hear so much more and how where this is going um for for you and for for the club for the girls and it's a huge opportunity. So thank you so much Linda.

[00:10:35]Um after the break we'll be back for more stories um along the journey of Gandavo rugby. We'll be back after the break.

[00:10:49][music] >> [music] >> Waka and welcome back to Women's Sports Center. Not only has Kandavo rugby returned, it has come back stronger than ever. Uh, Linda, the women's team winning Bosow Challenge Trophy and the Royal Randi Cup is a huge achievement.

[00:11:24]What did the success mean to Kandavu on the island?

[00:11:28]>> So maybe I should give a little bit of background about our Kandavu women's team which we often get accused of but that's okay. [laughter] We are here to to give opportunities to everyone.

[00:11:39]>> So what happened was that um the um Navos um sevens team >> were playing in the seven circuit in 2023.

[00:11:50]uh when they reached out to us and said when we just formed they said can we become your kandavu women's rugby team >> so actually our base is in Nandonga >> right >> and the women playing in the kandavu team are majority from Navosa >> but that's from the first year because it it was just going to take us too long to field women >> from the venua >> to play to have a team >> so as we work on that from our women in Kandavo we have this novel team who've now become family >> right >> and so uh but but in the last three years we've managed to field women from Kandavo playing in Suva a couple have played from the including law you know she's come in to play uh in the Kandavo team we leave that door open which helped in the success of the Randi Cup as well as reaching the semi-finals of the of the Marama Cup >> so more and more Kandavo women are coming in showing their interest but they're based in Andonga you know those women. [music] It's It's really exciting for me to see their passion. And so we are also trying to develop these women to not only think about being players, but also and I thank Fiji Rugby Union >> with the leadership of the Fiji Rugby to [music] get women to be more involved in leadership positions. So uh like currently our captain uh is now training uh in SNC. That's an area of interest.

[00:13:14]She was going to SNC. [music] >> We're also looking we've actually listed her also as a coach. So she's now a player, a coach player >> for Kandavo women's [music] team this year.

[00:13:24]>> Um and also other other players who have been training to become managers uh SNC and also doing their level [music] one level two coaching so that they can uh become leaders as well and replace us basically [music] you know um in the future. So very exciting times but I'm just thankful for these women. [music] They're fighters. They beat the men.

[00:13:46]They proved the men wrong.

[00:13:47]>> Yeah. you know in the first year the men were still in von they had gone up to Marama [clears throat] you know so but but I see how our women I see how our women are treated [music] in rugby you know and for me as a woman leader I continue to advocate [music] for our women >> and and and the biggest challenge we face and I believe we still treat it unequally >> is the amount of funding we get >> so the men for skipper can get like between 40 to 60,000 >> the [music] grant the women will only get 10,000 20,000.

[00:14:21]Same number of players, same number of people you need to feed, the same cost for camp, the same cost for transport and logistics. [music] And the women prove themselves earlier, >> but they're still getting way less than men in terms of grants from FRU. So FRU, please equality, [music] raise the funding, make sure that they are on the same level. And so because the only way, I mean, everything takes [music] money, right? The only way to raise the visibility of women in order to compete equally and fairly is that they receive the same amount of funding from >> FRU. Absolutely. And what what do you think with those challenges? What do you think has been the key factor behind these [music] rapid results?

[00:15:01]>> These women and men, our players are hungry [gasps and sighs] hungry to play because we've just started up. We've just started up. they were excited to put on the Kandavo uh jersey, >> you know, and and [clears throat] I don't mean to belittle or say anything less about our players from VU and our players who are from the the urban centers and all that, but there is something special [music] >> about players from the Venoa.

[00:15:31]>> They have been raised in the village.

[00:15:34]>> They have been raised with that structure.

[00:15:38]>> Mhm. the village structure as well as leadership and [music] they show respect.

[00:15:43]>> They show unity.

[00:15:44]>> Yeah. and they show a um they follow leadership >> and uh instruction >> and so [music] I believe that is the key to the success and this is why we keep insisting and the venu insisted you must start from the venu and bring veneer players because [music] the the level of uh discipline and structure that our venua players are already used to >> and you know their daily their daily work is eight to you know if they start at 8 and finish at 8. Their daily work, they wake up, [music] they have their lot, >> they go to farm or fish for a few hours, they come back, they're with their families, and even if [music] they're grog, it's just a few, you know, one bowl mix, they go to sleep, they rest well.

[00:16:30]>> So, they have the the discipline in terms of a routine, >> right?

[00:16:35]>> And they're not exposed [music] um to being, you know, being pressured by peers or going off and staying up late at night. There are even villages in Kandawi have 75 villages and 90 kinas the chief when they speak this is the discipline they listen >> right >> but they also have the ability to voice the opinions as well they're quite empowered quite empowered because they themselves from what they do in the village they are fishermen and farmers >> they earn money they earn money for their families and so they speak up because they are economically empowered so there is there is something special and there is a an X factor from Venua players [music] that I believe was the key to the success for the rapid results.

[00:17:22]>> Yeah, absolutely. And we've heard about the the rugby works initiative. Can you explain what that is and how it [music] has impacted the community?

[00:17:32]So when we came in from the very beginning our goal or our vision and mission for Kandavo rugby [music] was that we would use rugby to be the platform of development >> for the province. So it would not just be limited to on season it would also be offseason. M >> so in that way we would use rugby to unite the venua bring all the nine tina chiefs together >> one two to bring uh the players together so that they can meet and know and talk to each other >> just a sense of of solidarity because you know kandavu is unique that way we call the manund so manangi literally translated into English is the different animals or birds that have a different cry or different song manu But there is a long form to it which is so even though they have a different song or [music] a different cry they are all crying for good for the common good of Kandabu.

[00:18:35]>> So we looked and thought you know rugby unites Fiji.

[00:18:38]>> Everyone will drop everything to watch rugby. No matter what we will drop everything and watch rugby. So why not do this in our [clears throat] province to bring Abu [music] together to be united >> on one platform and that is Raki. So we have our three-year goal was to was to win you know to advance to skip and Marama >> but we also have a 5year and a 10ear goal.

[00:19:00]>> So what we'd like to do next is to form a Kandavo rugby union cooperative. So cooperative where our players are the shareholders and that they pay in a small amount of money but with that cooperative we'd like to see because we have farmers and fishermen one of the biggest challenges is access to markets >> with their crops and their goods. So once we form the cooperative one of our goals is to set up a processing plant in Venice >> and also in Kavala so that they bring their crops. They just have to sell it to us and then we pack and then we bring it either send it to Suva or we export.

[00:19:36]>> So that's the goal >> 5 year 10 year goal. We also would like to [music] uh um build our own stadium in Bunia in Kandavu. [music] So we need a stadium. So we've been appealing to FRU and to the government please put >> stadiums in our provinces because it's the way to build up Rakita. And the third mission vision we have is to uh combat drugs >> uh in the community. As you would have seen in our first year the statistics from Vicia police station there was a drop 69% [music] reduction >> in the arrests uh with marijuana because the play they've come to rugby. So saying no to drugs keeping rugby clean is our goal. M >> we will probably go ahead and do some drug tests next in terms of players that come in. But at least they know now that that's the platform. If you are doing drugs, there's no place for you in Kandavo rugby.

[00:20:36]>> Right. Right. Um Yeah. And that's so important because a lot of of athletes that that are brought up in rugby, it's just all about playing and not being aware of what is league and what is not.

[00:20:49]>> [music] >> But the fact that you guys are already starting that and just um making sure that players are aware that that's something that we need to be aware of.

[00:20:58][music] When you play a clean sport, you have to be clean on and off the field.

[00:21:01]>> Absolutely.

[00:21:02]>> So, thank you so much for for that.

[00:21:04]Thank you for for the stories um and just hearing about the progress with with um Kandavo Rugby. Uh Linda, um after the break, we'll be back for more leadership vision and the future of Kandav Rugby.

[00:21:18]Heat. Heat. N.

[00:21:21][music] >> [music] >> Well, and welcome back to Women's Sports Center. We are back with Minister Linda Tambuya. Um, as a female leader in both government and sport, what message do you hope to send to young women and girls in Fiji? I want to tell every young woman or girl in Fiji that you should never ever accept a no.

[00:22:04]>> You have as much right to sit at the table and make decisions like [music] men do.

[00:22:10]>> And when you cannot find a door, find a window. And also it's important to find males or men who champion women leadership.

[00:22:21]>> They are around you. So when you feel that you are pushed back because you're a woman, don't give up. Look around and see which men are actually supportive >> of your role as a leader and work with them because then they will be there in the same room and they will either vouch for you, endorse you or vote you in like they did for me. H from your role in government, how important is it to invest in women's sport and development program?

[00:22:54]>> It is everything. I mean, you know, I I meet a lot of tourists and a lot of people from overseas and they just said, "Wow, Fijian people, you have the right stock.

[00:23:05]You got the built, >> you got the height, you've got the personality, you have such presence."

[00:23:12]And I believe that is now um uh FRU is trying to capture that now. What is the value of our brand?

[00:23:20]>> We just had the SGM a few weeks ago, AGM and the decision was made there. Please FRU um quantify our brand in terms of value.

[00:23:29]>> Is it worth it us going overseas with our brand and what are we getting back in return when our players sign contracts? Are we getting that amount for our brand? The Fiji brand. Yeah. The Fiji rugby brand. And so it's the same for us, you know, and um for our players. So I believe we have such a strong labor force and I call it a labor force because um whatever they put their effort to and they get paid, that's labor, right? [music] >> So we need to as a country and for me as a woman, we need to look at our women and look at [music] our men and say this is a sellable feature.

[00:24:05]>> Our young people are it's not just for the neck to go in work and pick fruits.

[00:24:10]>> It's in sports. We are very sporty people. We are built for it. We can also have the discipline for it because of the setup in our vanua and the lu and the and our families. We are very communal.

[00:24:22]>> You know the the village raises the child. So we have a sense of community that [music] makes us stronger I believe >> as well as our built and our our physique >> and also the fact that we have that Fijian flare. So when we had the southern rally we went down for the weekend. One of the guys from uh one of our sponsors, Poly Products, Greg, he played in New Zealand. He said, "Wow, >> I have never witnessed provincial rugby and village rugby and I can see the Fijian flare, the Fijian style of playing." I mean, some call it jungle ball, >> but it's still very structured, but but unpredictable, you know, once they reach that level up, you know, there it becomes clinical. You sort of lose the Fijian flare.

[00:25:03]>> We have the Fijian flare. That's how we win. in Fiji. Bring back the Fijian flare.

[00:25:08]>> You know, field more of our provincial rugby players in our national teams.

[00:25:15][music] >> Don't just rely on our Europe players and our overseas players.

[00:25:19]>> We need to feel because we need to be able to see and really capitalize on the Fijian flare of rugby.

[00:25:28]>> Absolutely true. Um what do you think could be more could be done to support um women and girls especially in rural areas like Abu >> Again it takes uh you know those who are in the urban cities to to do what I've done >> to reach out and say look I am going to give my time I'm going to give my resources it's completely voluntary but because I have the passion and we have many people here in Sue we have many women who want to do this I've been telling my my nas in cabinet and in Palm says, "Hey, form LAI rugby union." I've been telling my comrades in in from Lao, form the Lao Rugby Union. You're the only two left.

[00:26:09]>> Do it. It takes us here. We have been given the opportunity to be educated.

[00:26:14]I'm very grateful to the government for my Fiji government scholarship. I was able to study law and come back here to work and live. We need to give back. M >> we need to give up with passion and our resources and just [music] putting it out there and go and do it cuz the venua awaits our people in the rural areas await. They just need us to connect back to them >> and to form something like Kandav Rugby.

[00:26:39]>> Yeah, definitely. And as a minister, how do you balance your responsibility while also leading a rugby union?

[00:26:47]>> [laughter] >> So, so for example, I just had parliament sitting uh over a week ago, parliament sitting and then all of last week I had a few um events. Uh we had the ministers, Australian ministers visiting, so I met with them. Then I went to 90 for an FTU. As soon as I came back, I arrived at 3:00 p.m. I was on the boat 8:00 p.m. check-in >> and I went for the weekend. Yeah.

[00:27:08]Turnaround time back last night, really late last night.

[00:27:11]>> But that's what you [music] do for when you're passionate about something. you just make the time and you must show up.

[00:27:18]Presence is everything.

[00:27:20]>> And so because it's a passion for me, >> um it's easy for me and I've done it for many years. So if you know you love doing community [music] work and you see a need, >> you feel that need cuz there's so many that are there. And so I just encourage >> people like me who have been educated, who have been given a privilege. You know the same goes there with a privilege comes responsibility. So it's my responsibility to give back to my venue. It's my responsibility to give back to Fiji and it not it's not always uh monetary like a job like being a politician must be everything else we do outside of that because it actually helps you to serve better. [music] Helps me serve better as a minister.

[00:28:04]>> Helps me serves better as a politician to be out there with the people for something I'm not getting paid to do.

[00:28:09]And that is with um Kandavo rugby and the manua.

[00:28:13]>> Absolutely.

[00:28:14]Um yeah um just amazing just hearing the story where Kandav rugby began, how it's going and where [music] it's taking you.

[00:28:23]What is your vision for Kandava rugby over the next few years?

[00:28:28]>> Well, we hope to win the skipa and the marama.

[00:28:31]>> Simple.

[00:28:31]>> Simple.

[00:28:33]Well, um Minister Tambuya for sharing your journey and your incredible um work you're doing to lift the communities through sport. Um your story is truly inspiring. So, thank you so much for all that you >> have done for for Kandavo Rugby, for the women, for empowering women in sports and young girls around the world. We're grateful to have you on the show and we're so excited to see where um Kandav Rugby goes in the next couple years for sure.

[00:29:03]See you at the skipa mama >> and that's woman sports center where we celebrate strength leadership and power of women in sport. I am Asat your host.

[00:29:12]Thank you so much. Good night.