More than a hundred Fijian supporters donned blue and white jerseys, passionately cheering for the FIJI Water Flying Fijians at Teufaiva Stadium in Tonga yesterday. The atmosphere was tense as the Tonga team scored three tries in the first half, prompting many fans to chant “Toso Viti Toso” in a bid to uplift the Fijian players for the second half.
The match kicked off at 4 PM, and many fans took leave from work to witness the clash between the two prominent Pacific nations. Jonetani Vula, a local school teacher, arrived at the stadium by 3 PM with his wife, emphasizing how much his family looked forward to this match.
“Many Fijian families here have shared designs for the Fijian jerseys, and lots of people picked theirs up last night. Some traveled from far outside of Nuku’alofa to support the team today,” Vula said. “We are thrilled that the boys won tonight, and we wish them all the best for their game in Japan.”
After the match, fans serenaded team captain Tevita Ikanivere with happy birthday songs and presented him with a cake to celebrate their victory over the formidable Tonga side. Ikanivere expressed his heartfelt appreciation for the fans, stating that their support significantly boosted the team’s morale and contributed to their success.