Eileen Cikamatana’s coach Paul Coffa believes Fiji has lost one of its best athletes.
Speaking to FBC Sports from Noumea, New Caledonia, Coffa says Cikamatana is Fiji’s gold medal prospect and letting her go is a big loss for the country.
Coffa says he is proud of Cikamatana’s decision and is hoping to see her don the green and gold uniform in 2021.
“There are quite a few countries that are keen to get hold of her and she’s one of the best in the world and she’s young but Australia came into the right time. She’s determined to continue and eventually, we will see her competing in green and gold.”
Cikamatana has been given permanent residency status in Australia in return for representing the country.
She was among the Levuka elite lifters who withdrew from Weightlifting Fiji as they were unhappy with the appointment of the Iranian coach Hossein Tavakoli to be the national coach.
Cikamatana will be eligible to represent Australia in 2021.
