Discipline and leadership are the primary focuses for the Queen Victoria School Under-18 team as they prepare to defend their Vodafone Deans Trophy title against Marist Brothers High School in the quarterfinal match at Suva’s HFC Bank Stadium tomorrow.
QVS U18 captain Anare Tabakaucoro shared his thoughts during an interview, acknowledging the challenge ahead. “We had a normal preparation and we know that Marist is a good team,” he stated, showing respect for their opponents despite Marist finishing third in their zone competition.
Tabakaucoro, who is new to the QVS squad this year, described the difficulties of integrating into the team but emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge from last year’s successful campaign. “I did not play with this team last year, but I usually advise my team-mates of what the previous team did in terms of planning, preparation, and execution. That made us win the Deans Trophy,” he expressed.
The captain highlighted that the team will fight for each other and for their families, friends, and alumni this season. He noted the players’ deep appreciation for their parents’ sacrifices, with many teammates coming from distant places like Vanua Levu and being away from home for extended periods. “A lot of my team members were raised by single parents, so it has been our motivation to perform well in every game that we play in,” he said.
Despite his experiences with the Fijian Warriors and Fiji Under-20 teams, Tabakaucoro remains humble and committed to his values. “I always tell myself to be humble 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 we should not defend the Deans title this year but rather win it.”
On the other hand, the manager of the Marist Brothers High School U18 team has opted to maintain a low profile, choosing not to participate in interviews ahead of the match.