Labasa College’s under-17 girls’ futsal side created history at the Fiji Secondary Schools Futsal Championship, winning the national title with a 3-1 victory over defending champions AD Patel College at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva last week. It was a remarkable debut for Labasa College, which fielded futsal teams at the national competition for the first time.
Head coach Roneel Ram described the triumph as “being on top of the world,” and said the result reflected months of disciplined preparation. “They were terrific. Very disciplined, and they followed every instruction,” Ram said, singling out the players’ commitment and ability to learn and execute tactics as decisive factors in the final and throughout the tournament.
Labasa’s success went beyond the U17 girls. All four Labasa College teams that qualified for the National Championships advanced to the semi-finals, underlining the depth of the school’s maiden campaign. The U17 girls, often referred to locally as the Babasiga girls, went one step further to lift the trophy and spoil AD Patel’s bid to retain the title.
Ram paid tribute to the combined effort behind the achievement, thanking teachers, officials and supporters both in Suva and back home in Labasa. He noted the strong bond within the squad — players affectionately referred to him as “father” — and credited their unity and devotion as key elements of their run to the title. “This is all down to the hard work and sacrifice of the Babasiga girls, the teachers, and the officials,” he said.
Beyond celebrating the win, Ram used the moment to press for greater backing of women’s sport. “Female sport is growing, and it needs to keep growing. I urge everyone to support our girls,” he said, emphasising the importance of sustained resources and encouragement if participation trends are to continue upward.
The victory marks a significant milestone for Labasa College and adds momentum to efforts across Fiji to expand opportunities for girls in school sport. Ram closed by extending his gratitude to the school principal, the players’ parents and the wider community whose support he said was “unwavering” throughout the campaign. The Babasiga girls’ national title in their first appearance at the championships underscores the potential of fledgling programs when matched with discipline and community backing.