Former national boxer and Boxing Commission of Fiji (BCF) board member Visila Kolitapa has called for a fair selection of local boxers when it comes to international tours. Visila along with husband and former national amateur boxing star Temo Kolitapa have withdrawn their daughter Merewalesi Vulavou Saumaiwai Kolitapa from the national squad, which will make a mid-year tour to Australia. Visila said they made the decision because they felt the selection for the international trips to the United States and Australia were bias and unfair. She added that a verbal confirmation was done earlier confirming Merewalesi for the US trip but it was otherwise when the final list was made last Saturday. Merewalesi, 16, has fought 24 bouts with one loss. Her only loss was during her debut in 2020. Visila indicated her daughter sacrificed the Christmas and New Years’ feasting by sticking to her diet and training programmes. “Her father has taken this decision because our request was denied to find her a sponsor for the U.S trip; so might as well pull her out of all the international trip if she’s selected,” she said. “I pulled her out because the selection criteria were unfair. I know that my daughter has worked hard. She has proven herself; she’s undefeated not only competing within her age group but above her age as well. Merewalesi gave her 150 per cent in preparing for this.” Visila alleged that the woman boxer selected for the US tour fought only once last year. “If the Fiji Amateur Boxing Association (FABA) takes a national team then they have to go through the trials.” “In order to guide an athlete who has potential you have to send her through this kind of programmes, especially in boxing, this if government funding will be used.” COACH EXPLAINS When contacted national boxing head coach, Cameron Todd said due to financial constraints, FABA is only taking five boxers to the U.S competition. The five included Aminiasi Saritbau, Josaia Veqaravi, Ben Williams, Jone Davule and Jasmine Daunakamakama. Daunakamakama is also included in the team to Australia. “We had a set budget so we are only allowed to take our top five elites to the USA competition. The Australia competition is going to be excellent for juniors, youths and a couple of new elites,” Todd said. “The elites going to USA is in preparation for the World Championships in September.” The US competition will run for four days; the one in Australia is a three-day competition. “Selection was based from the performances and results from last year. This is part of the juniors and youths build-up for other events this year and next. “Mere (Merewalesi Kolitapa) was selected as part of a national team, which was divided to two trips. We would have likened to take more to the USA but financially it was going to be too expensive. We wanted to make sure that our juniors and youths get international exposure. “Unfortunately Visila pulled her daughter out the first time because we did not select Mere’s brother. I then convinced the coach to not have Mere pulled out and that got sorted. “And when the teams were made official on Saturday, Visila and her husband pulled Mere out again because she wasn’t in the USA trip. But as I mentioned earlier that was for elites only and that’s all we could budget for. “We most certainly did not drop Mere, I wanted her to go on the trip and I’m disappointed that her parents decided to pull her out because of their lack of understanding of the situation so it’s a real shame. “Mere is a good junior boxer and deserved to go to Australia but I can’t control what parents do if they want to pull their children out. It’s entirely up to them but just to clarify FABA did not drop her she was pulled out by her parents.” Todd added that his focus was on the athletes who want to be part of the trips. He indicated that competition has been lined-up this year; a Samoan team will be in Fiji in June and another team from Australia in July. The men’s and women’s world championship will take place in September and a Tri-Nations is possible for November, a New Zealand team will hosted in December. “Hopefully in October we’re hoping to take a team of a development side to NZ for training and competition as well. So it’s quite a busy year for us.” Car wash fundraiser FABA is having a car wash drive tomorrow to fundraise for the upcoming international tournament for our local boxers to USA and Australia. It will be at Kundan Singh Supermarket from 10am to 2pm. Feedback: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj