Defending champion St John’s College is determined to retain its title in this year’s Fiji Secondary Schools Hockey competition with its under-19 boys’ team. The team demonstrated their commitment by winning their first match against Tilak High School and drawing 1-1 with St Thomas High School in their second pool match yesterday.
Head coach Metuisela Masi expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance against St Thomas, recognizing it as a challenging game. “The match was great; St Thomas gave us a good run, but we are happy with the result,” Masi stated.
He pointed out the challenges of training on different surfaces, noting the contrast between grass and turf. “Preparations leading into the competition were okay, but training on grass and hockey turf is quite different. We are getting used to the turf and enjoying it,” he explained.
Masi emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes as they prepare for future matches. “We will be working on our mistakes to improve in the next matches; otherwise, the boys are doing great.”
Despite the challenges posed by having several new players on the team, he remains hopeful about their chances in the competition. With only four teams in the U19 category, St John’s College is optimistic about its title defense.
He also thanked the parents, supporters, and teachers from the college in Suva for their continuous encouragement. The tournament is set to continue until tomorrow at the National Hockey Centre in Suva.