Discipline and leadership are key 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.
Anare Tabakaucoro, the QVS U18 captain, shared his thoughts during a recent interview, acknowledging the quality of their opponent. “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,” he stated.
Tabakaucoro noted the challenges he faced fitting into the current team, having not played with them the previous year. He emphasized the importance of sharing insights from past experiences, reflecting on the strategies that led to their previous victory. “I usually advise my teammates about what the previous team did in terms of planning, preparation, and execution, which helped us win the Deans Trophy,” he said. He also highlighted their commitment to playing for their families, friends, and alumni.
He identified the motivation derived from their parents’ sacrifices as a significant strength of the team. “Many of our parents have made great sacrifices for us, and some teammates have traveled from Vanua Levu and haven’t seen their families in a long time. A lot of us were raised by single parents, which inspires us to perform well in every game,” he explained.
Despite his experience with the Fijian Warriors and Fiji Under-20 teams, Tabakaucoro remains humble, attributing his achievements to a higher purpose. “I always remind 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 advises us not to defend the Deans title this year but rather to strive to win it.”
In contrast, the Marist Brothers High School U18 manager indicated that they would maintain a low profile and refrain from giving interviews ahead of the match.