The Tailevu Naitasiri Gazette
Squad20 Sep 2027
Abhishek Deo in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Tailevu Naitasiri this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Market20 Sep 2027
Tailevu Naitasiri promote Malakai Sauturaga from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Malakai Sauturaga has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market20 Sep 2027
One of our own: Christopher Drudru joins the Tailevu Naitasiri first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Christopher Drudru is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Market20 Sep 2027
Akuila Cama steps up from the Tailevu Naitasiri academy
There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Akuila Cama has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.
Market20 Sep 2027
One of our own: Maleli Nakaci joins the Tailevu Naitasiri first team
Clubs spend fortunes looking for players and occasionally find one down the corridor. Maleli Nakaci is that, and the reception he gets on his first appearance will be different in kind from the one any signing receives.
Squad20 Sep 2027
France Catarogo falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
The dugout20 Sep 2027
Mosese Nabose gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Mosese Nabose is on it.
The dugout20 Sep 2027
Rajneel Singh knocks on the manager's door
“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Tailevu Naitasiri, and both men came out saying it was fine.
Squad20 Sep 2027
Matthew Portelli is not doing himself any favours
A manager forgives a bad Saturday far more readily than a bad Tuesday, because one of them he can explain and the other one he chose. The reports this week have not been good.
In brief
- The dugout The manager comes out for Altamish Khan
- Squad Taniela Bari is fit again