Parents and supporters of Dawasamu Secondary School woke up early, leaving their village at 5 am, to make the long journey to Suva for the quarter-final match of the under-17 teams against Marist at Burkhurst Park. Kemuneli Vere from Delakado Dawasamu expressed pride in the fact that 17 supporters made the trip to cheer on the team, which has reached this level for the first time. He noted that the only other team from their school to achieve such success was the U18 girls, who are the reigning champions of the Raluve Cup.
Vere mentioned that while support was strong during the quarter-finals, it had been lacking earlier in the competition. He shared his commitment, saying he follows the U17 team closely, as his son is part of it. After a challenging playoff in Vanualevu, he encouraged other parents to increase their support. He highlighted that there were difficulties in providing meals for the players, but through collective effort, they managed to overcome these challenges.
He emphasized the importance of parental support in their children’s pursuits, stating that he supports his son at every game and makes it a point each year to buy new boots for him. Vere always advises his son to work hard and stay committed to the sport, aiming to proudly wear the white jersey.