Discipline and leadership are the focal points for the Queen Victoria School Under-18 team as they prepare to defend their title against Marist Brothers High School in the quarterfinals of the Vodafone Deans Trophy at Suva’s HFC Bank Stadium tomorrow. QVS U18 captain Anare Tabakaucoro emphasized these aspects during an interview with SUNsports.
“We had a normal preparation and we know that Marist is a strong team,” Tabakaucoro stated. “We respect them, even though they finished third in their zone.”
The captain shared that adjusting to the current team dynamics has been challenging for him as a newcomer. “I did not play with this team last year, but I often advise my teammates about the strategies that led the previous team to success, particularly in terms of planning, preparation, and execution, which helped us win the Deans Trophy.”
He expressed a commitment to playing for each other and for their families, friends, and alumni this year. “Our biggest strength comes from honoring our parents’ sacrifices. Many of my teammates have traveled from Vanua Levu and haven’t seen their families for a long time, so this is a significant motivation for us,” he added. “A lot of us were raised by single parents, and that drives 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 prioritize God, as everything in my life is about Him. Our coaches have told us that instead of focusing on defending our title, we should aim to win it again this year.”
On the other hand, the manager of the Marist Brothers High School U18 team opted to maintain a low profile and declined interview requests.