Fiji Police’s Sukuna Bowl campaign was provided a much-needed boost today via a $15,000 sponsorship from TotalEnergies.
Receiving the sponsorship was a bittersweet moment for Fiji’s Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho.
Whilst grateful for the continued support of the petroleum and energy company, he said it also brought back painful memories of last year’s loss.
Scores were 17-15 to Police in the dying minutes of the game before Army’s replacement centre Jone Manu slotted a late penalty, to claim the win, breaking the hearts of a vocal Police crowd at the HFC Stadium (formerly known as ANZ Stadium) last year.
“The disappointment of that loss last year still hurts,” Mr Qiliho said, vowing to secure a more favorable outcome to reciprocate the fuel company’s faith in returning to support them despite their defeat to Army last year.
“The men have been trained despite all the operational demands of the police force at the moment and it’s important that we go out there and come away with the victory that we desire.
“When it comes to rugby, it is a different ball game. I know you said the word camaraderie, yes it should bring us together, but I can assure you that 80 minutes is going to be tough like every year. And we thank you TotalEnergies for having that faith in us. We’re not going to let you down.”
TotalEnergies Managing Director Dennis Michael Cuaycong said last year’s edition was also his first time at the Sukuna Bowl, and wished the team well and their strides to achieve a different outcome this time around.
The Sukuna Bowl 2022 is scheduled for a 5pm kick-off this Friday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
