The Queen Victoria School Under-18 team, the defending champions of the Vodafone Deans Trophy, is set to emphasize discipline and leadership as they prepare to take on Marist Brothers High School in the quarterfinals tomorrow at Suva’s HFC Bank Stadium. This was highlighted by QVS U18 captain Anare Tabakaucoro during an interview.
Tabakaucoro acknowledged Marist’s strength as a team, expressing respect for them despite their third-place finish in the zone competition. He mentioned the challenge he faced in integrating with the current squad, as he was not part of the team last year. However, he aims to share insights from the previous team’s strategy, which contributed to their success in winning the Deans Trophy.
He stated that the team is determined to play for each other as well as for their families, friends, and alumni. According to Tabakaucoro, the squad’s greatest asset is their recognition of their parents’ sacrifices, especially considering some players have traveled long distances from Vanua Levu and have not seen their families in quite some time. He emphasized that many team members come from single-parent households, which drives their motivation to excel in every match.
Despite his experience playing for the Fijian Warriors and the Fiji Under-20 teams, Tabakaucoro remains humble, attributing his achievements to a higher purpose. He shares a reminder from their coaching staff that the goal is not merely to defend the Deans title but to win it again.
In contrast, the Marist Brothers High School U18 manager has chosen to maintain a low profile and will not participate in interviews ahead of the match.