Anginesh Prasad, a well-known local football coach, has realized a profound wish of his late father-in-law by leading the Labasa Football Association to a tournament victory. Prasad, affectionately called AJ within the football community, joined the coaching staff as Technical Advisor for the Labasa team during the 2024 FMF Inter District Championship (IDC). Together with Coach Ravneel Pratap, he guided the Babasiga Lions to triumph over Navua at Churchill Park in Lautoka last month.
In an interview, Prasad expressed that the victory was dedicated to his late father-in-law, Kamla Prasad, emphasizing that achieving this win was a long-held dream of his. “Since I started coaching, he had been urging me to help Labasa win a tournament. Although that didn’t happen while he was alive, I was thrilled to assist Labasa when approached by the team’s president, Rayaz,” Prasad stated.
The win holds special significance for Prasad, who believes that his father-in-law would be proud and watching over the team. He acknowledged the collective effort of the players and officials, underscoring that the success was a result of their hard work.
Prasad and his coaching team set clear goals for the tournament, aiming to secure wins in their initial group matches, which they successfully accomplished. They strategically rested players who had accumulated yellow cards for a later match, knowing it would not significantly affect their standings at that point.
Despite facing tough opponents in the semifinal and final, Prasad highlighted his team’s focus and determination, particularly during the penalty shootout against Navua, where the players executed flawlessly.
Now that the tournament is over, AJ, who also works as Operations Manager for P. Meghji Group of Companies in Lautoka, is considering a short break before determining his future coaching commitments. He remains open to helping any team that seeks his expertise, embodying the spirit of dedication and passion for the sport.
This story reflects not only a personal victory for Prasad but also symbolizes the importance of family, remembrance, and community support in achieving success. It showcases how fulfilling a loved one’s wishes can become a driving force for perseverance and triumph in challenging endeavors.
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