Defence will be a key factor for the Vodafone Fiji Bati team as they prepare to face the Papua New Guinea Kumuls tonight. Captain Tui Kamikamica shared these insights following their captain’s run at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday.
Kamikamica, hailing from Somosomo, Taveuni, acknowledged the fervor of their Melanesian rivals. He mentioned that the week of training in Suva has been productive as they worked on enhancing their teamwork among the halves, forwards, and backs, as well as integrating the new players into the squad.
The Bati are set to kick off at 8:10 PM at HFC Stadium with four debutants. “The game will be decided in the middle,” said Kamikamica, who plays for the Melbourne Storm. He emphasized that the forwards’ primary focus has been on generating momentum through their defence, stating, “Once we focus on defence, everything will take care of itself.”
The 30-year-old expressed his pride in leading the team for the Pacific Bowl Championship on home soil, noting that the Bati have not played in Fiji since 2001. He recognized that defeating PNG has always been a challenge.
“We will be cautious of their aggression; they run and tackle hard,” he noted. “This is something I stressed to the team earlier this week regarding the physicality of the Kumuls. However, we also need to concentrate on our individual performances. If everyone does their job well, it will ease the pressure on the team, so we’re primarily focused on our own game.”
Kamikamica added that the return of Viliame Kikau from the Bulldogs has strengthened the team, especially after his absence from last year’s championship.