The under-16 team from Ba Methodist High School utilized old tires and ropes during their training sessions to prepare for the Vodafone Super Deans competition held last Saturday. Despite facing a tough defeat against Ratu Kadavulevu School with a score of 8-30, the team considered the match an essential learning experience.
Assistant coach Paula Rokotuiloma expressed pride in the team’s achievement of reaching the cup quarterfinals. He emphasized that this experience presented a significant learning opportunity and they are determined to improve for next year.
Rokotuiloma mentioned the various challenges the team encountered, noting that the players maintained their enthusiasm despite limited resources. Training was conducted with improvised materials found around the school, such as ropes and tires, and they had only one hour of training each afternoon, which included road runs.
Looking ahead, Rokotuiloma stated their intention to return stronger for future competitions. He reflected on their journey, highlighting their victory over Natabua in the zone semi-final and a second-place finish against Ba Provincial High School. This year marked a significant milestone as it was the first time an under-16 team from Ba Methodist High School reached the national quarter-finals, all made possible through the hard work of the players and support from parents and guardians.