Parents and supporters of Dawasamu Secondary School woke up early to travel to Suva for their under-17 team’s quarter-final match against Marist at Burkhurst Park yesterday. Kemuneli Vere from Delakado Dawasamu shared that the group left the village at 5 am. “There are 17 of us here to support our boys as it’s the first time for this grade to qualify for this level,” Vere stated.
He noted that the only previous team from their school to reach this stage was the reigning champion under-18 girls’ team in the Raluve Cup. Despite strong support during the quarter-finals, Vere mentioned that earlier in the competition, support was lacking.
“As my son is part of the under-17 team, I follow them everywhere,” he explained. After returning from Vanualevu, where they played in the playoffs, he informed other parents about the need for more support. “We faced challenges in providing meals for the players, but through collective effort from parents, we managed,” he added.
Vere emphasized the importance of parental support in their children’s pursuits. “I support my son in every game,” he affirmed. Each year, he makes it a point to buy him new boots and encourages him to work hard to earn his place in the team. “I always advise him that this path calls for dedication, and it’s important to don the white jersey.”