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Wednesday 5 April 2023 1:01pm

Discipline, resilience and value-based leadership were at the heart of a recent visit to the Otago Business School.

Naca Cawanibuka speaking to staff and students at the University of Otago image
Naca Cawanibuka speaking to staff and students.

Head of Athletic Performance for the Fijian Drua, Naca Cawanibuka, was invited to speak to staff and students about how he twice led the Fijian sevens team to Olympic victory.

The former sevens coach was responsible for the side that he says “put Fiji on the map” in 2016, when they won their first Olympic gold in Rio.

Their victory was at the centre of the documentary film the Sevens from Heaven.

He says it was important to establish the meaning and purpose of every player that trained under him, and to lean on core values of family, veilomani (love) and faith.

His biggest challenge was preparing his team for the 2020 Olympics, while COVID-19 restrictions were at their most strict.

“When people are dying, who cares about sevens?”

Going back to basics and embracing what he calls “Fijian simplicity” was instrumental in his approach to leadership.

“When we were in Fiji training for Tokyo, we would often sit on the floor with players. We would train in a carpark gym under a tent. Going back to basics,” he says.

“We would practice on the beach.

“On those sands, we learned about resilience and toughness.”

He shared how he was able to motivate his team through isolation and remind them of the end goal as they struggled to be away from their families.

“We had to get through that as a brotherhood.”

Otago's Pacific community standing with Naca Cawanibuka in front of the Clocktower Building image
Otago's Pacific community standing with Naca Cawanibuka in front of the Clocktower Building.

Attendees joined Mr Cawanibuka at the OBS for morning tea after his presentation.

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