Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has accused opposition politicians of wanting to politicise the Fiji Sevens Olympic victory.
Fiji Sevens win gold in Rio. The first ever olympic medal for the country and the first Gold medal for the whole of the Pacific region. Photo: AFP
The team won the country's first Olympic gold medal at the Rio Games beating Great Britain 43-7 last Friday.
Fiji erupted into a frenzy of celebration and a huge reception including marching bands, traditional dancers and more medals will welcome the team when they arrive home from Rio on Sunday.
The opposition leader of SODELPA, Sitiveni Rabuka, has praised the successful players, saying they should be handsomely rewarded with a house, land and cash.
Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama (left) and the opposition leader Sitiveni Rabuka (right). Mr Bainimarama has accused Mr Rabuka of politicising the Fiji 7s team's gold medal. Photo: Supplied/AFP
But Mr Bainimarama told the news site Fiji Village that these politicians are "a bunch of losers" trying to politicise the win by the 7s team.
He said he wondered where the SODELPA executives and MPs were leading up to the Rio Olympics and whether any of them ever attended a fundraiser to support the team.
Mr Bainimarama travelled to Brazil and watched the team's victory in the stadium last week.
Monday has been declared a public holiday to celebrate the win.
