In the latest development ahead of the Vodafone Fiji Cup, Kaunikuila Royals captain Matila Vocea says a youthful roster will not be a handicap as the Cakaudrove side prepares to compete at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva. Vocea revealed that the majority of her teammates are still in high school but stressed they have trained hard and are ready to make an impact when the tournament gets under way from Thursday to Saturday.
Vocea, who leads the Royals, said several players are relatively new to competitive basketball but that progress during training has been encouraging. “Even though we got plenty young players in the team, they have been performing very well during our training sessions and they are all excited to compete this week. They are getting to understand the game better and we look forward to the competition,” she said, underlining the squad’s growing cohesion and work ethic.
The Kaunikuila Basketball Club also received a timely boost on the eve of the tournament when sponsors YADRA presented new sets of jerseys to both the Kaunikuila Royals and the Islanders last night. The kit handover, Vocea said, lifted spirits across the camp and provided the teams with professional uniforms ahead of the matches at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva.
Vocea pointed to the psychological benefits of the new jerseys as much as the practical ones, saying the presentation helped instil confidence in a side that will face more experienced opponents. With several of her teammates balancing school commitments alongside training, Vocea highlighted the challenge of building experience quickly but expressed belief their recent sessions have closed some of that gap.
Organisers have scheduled the Vodafone Fiji Cup to run over three days, with club sides converging on the FMF Gymnasium for the short, intense competition. For Kaunikuila, the event represents both a test and an opportunity to showcase emerging talent from Cakaudrove and surrounding areas as younger players gain exposure to higher-level matches.
As teams finalise line-ups and preparations this week, the Royals will be hoping the combination of enthusiastic youth and fresh sponsorship support translates into competitive performances in Suva. Vocea’s remarks and the jersey presentation are the latest indicators of the club’s readiness and determination to punch above their weight at the Vodafone Fiji Cup.