Navatu Secondary School has achieved a significant milestone by reaching the national quarter-finals of the Vodafone Super Deans for the first time in its 26-year history. The under-19 team secured their spot by narrowly defeating St. John’s Cawaci 18-16 in a playoff match held in Labasa two weeks ago.
The team has received immense support from the local community, which consists of nine villages that make up Navatu, as well as from alumni and the chief of Tamavua Village, where the team is currently housed.
Principal Ilikena Tomasi expressed pride in the players for establishing a new legacy for the school. He highlighted that while the team reached the playoffs last year, advancing to the quarter-finals represents a historic achievement.
“We are proud of the boys; they have created history for themselves, their school, and their families. This is the first time for us to advance further in 26 years,” Tomasi stated.
He acknowledged that the national competition presents a higher level of challenge and emphasized the importance of mental preparation for the players in the days leading up to the match.
Their mental readiness will be critical as they face off against Naitasiri Secondary School, the top seed from the southern zone, in a challenging game.
“It won’t be easy because we know that Naitasiri Secondary is the champion of rugby league since Term 1. We respect them, but we are hoping to win,” he added.
Navatu is set to compete against Naitasiri tomorrow at 2:45 PM at Buckhurst Park in Laucala Bay, Suva.