Weekly cricket competitions for under-19 girls are currently taking place every Saturday, playing a vital role in selecting a national team for an upcoming qualifier tournament in April. Joeli Mateyawa, the development manager of Cricket Fiji, shared this information as the latest round of competition unfolded at Albert Park in Suva.
The primary goal, according to Mateyawa, is to form a team that will compete in the qualifiers for the 2027 Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup, which is set to be held in Papua New Guinea. “That’s what this competition is about, but overall, we do this program every year in the first term,” he explained.
The competition features not only matches for under-19 girls and boys but also includes tournaments for primary schools and senior categories. Simultaneously, an under-19 competition is being held in Nadi at Denarau, which has seen participation from six teams.
With the tournament well underway, Mateyawa noted that the emerging pool of talented cricketers comes from both urban and rural schools. “We have a lot of talents in the tournament, mostly from Tailevu North College, which has participated multiple times and brought a large contingent,” he mentioned. He stressed that schools in the Lami corridor, such as Suva Grammar School and Adi Cakobau School, consistently showcase strong talent and dominance in the competition.
Recently, schools like Lami High School and Lomary Secondary School participated at Albert Park, alongside other contenders including Lelean Memorial School, Suva Grammar School, John Wesley College, and Tailevu North College.
The ongoing competition not only highlights the skills and potential of young cricketers in Fiji but also fosters a spirit of sportsmanship and teamwork among the participants, paving the way for future success in the sport.
Leave a comment