Discipline and leadership will be the key focus areas for the reigning Vodafone Deans Trophy champions, the Queen Victoria School Under-18 team, as they prepare to take on Marist Brothers High School in the quarterfinal match scheduled for tomorrow at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Anare Tabakaucoro, the captain of QVS U18, emphasized these points during an interview yesterday. He acknowledged the team’s preparation, stating, “We had a normal preparation and we know that Marist is a good team. We respect them even though they came third in their zone competition.”
Tabakaucoro shared that adapting to the current QVS squad has been challenging for him, as he joined the team new this year. He noted, “I did not play with this team last year, but I usually advise my teammates based on what the previous team accomplished in terms of planning, preparation, and execution. That made us win the Deans Trophy.”
The captain expressed the team’s commitment to play for one another, as well as for their families and alumni. He highlighted that their greatest motivation stems from honoring the sacrifices of their parents. “All those times our parents prepared our meals for us, especially since some of our teammates traveled from Vanua Levu and haven’t seen their families in a long time,” he explained. “Many of my teammates were raised by single parents, and this has driven us to perform well in every game.”
Despite his experience with the Fijian Warriors and the Fiji Under-20 teams, Tabakaucoro remains humble. “I always remind myself to stay grounded and put God first because everything that happens in my life is not about me; it’s all about God. Our coaching staff has advised us that instead of defending the Deans title, we should focus on winning it.”
On the other hand, the manager of the Marist Brothers High School U18 team mentioned their intention to remain low-key and would not be participating in interviews.