The Fiji Rugby Union has clarified that the Lautoka Rugby Union was paid $9,000 for this month’s installment as part of the assistance under the Skipper Cup competition.
This comes after Lautoka said that they failed to turn up at Nasau park last Saturday to Ovalau because their fare was not paid.
But FRU Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Berlin Kafoa said he does not understand why Lautoka is raising the issue because they have been paid more than their normal allocation.
Dr Kafoa said the normal monthly installment for a union is $7,000 but Lautoka Rugby was paid $9,000 due to their request.
On the 2nd of May, FRU wrote a letter to Patterson Shipping Company and paid $9000 for Lautoka’s boat fares to Macuata.
This amount was to come out of Lautoka’s May allocation which is $7250 with the balance of $1750 to be taken from the June allocation.
Lautoka Rugby Union Secretary Salesi Vulakoro said the $9000 was for their trip to Macuata and not Ovalau.
He said they requested for assistance for their Ovalau trip.
Vulakoro added FRU could have released their allocation for June because there will be no Skipper Cup games due to the test matches and Lautoka has two more home games plus their other away games are against Vatukoula and Nadroga which they can manage.
When Berlin Kafoa was questioned on Lautoka Rugby saying that they had to pawn a laptop in Nausori on the 11th of April to pay for the players’ meals, Dr Kafoa says they sent the funds on the same day.
Salesi Vulakoro said the funds arrived late as the banks were closed.
Dr Kafoa said the default win that was awarded to Ovalau will remain.
Meanwhile, the FRU Annual General Meeting will be held this Saturday in Nadi.
Story by: Akuila Cama
