The under-16 team from Ba Methodist High School prepared for the Vodafone Super Deans by using old tires and ropes for training. Despite a challenging match where they lost 8-30 to a strong Ratu Kadavulevu School team, the players viewed the experience as an important opportunity to learn.
Assistant coach Paula Rokotuiloma expressed pride in the team’s achievement of reaching the cup quarterfinals. He emphasized that the journey had its difficulties, but the players remained dedicated despite the adversity they faced.
“We didn’t have enough resources to prepare the boys comprehensively. We had to use what was available at the school, like ropes and tires, to get them fit. Our training sessions were limited to just one hour each afternoon after school, which also included road runs,” he explained.
Rokotuiloma noted that, although they faced setbacks, they were determined to come back stronger in the following year. The team had previously defeated Natabua in the zone semi-final and finished second against Ba Provincial High School.
“This year was a challenging journey for us, but thanks to the boys’ hard work and the support from parents and guardians, we managed to reach the national quarter-finals. This was the first time an under-16 team from our school made it this far,” he added.