Veteran striker Christopher Wasasala once again came through for the Labasa football team, securing a 5-3 victory over Navua in a penalty shootout during the grand final of the FMF Inter District Championship at Lautoka’s Churchill Park last night.
In an interview, Wasasala expressed his determination to succeed when he stepped up to take the crucial penalty, aiming to silence his critics. “I was confident that it would go in, especially after missing a penalty in our semi-final match,” he stated. He noted the challenges faced by the team and emphasized the importance of remaining strong during the final. He committed to being the fifth kicker and pledged to win the match for Labasa, dedicating the victory to their fans.
Contributing to the Labasa scoreline were Anish Khem, Sekove Naivakananumi, Rusiate Doidoi, and Lekima Gonerau. For Navua, the goals were tallied by Ali Mekawir, Filipe Baravilala, and Jared Rongosulia, although Vineet Chand’s attempt was off target.
An emotional Labasa coach Ravneel Pratap highlighted the significance of district pride in motivating the team. He acknowledged the support from fans, sponsors, and officials throughout a challenging season, particularly praising Extra Supermarket for their backing.
Pratap expressed gratitude for the team’s resilience, noting their comeback from a 3-0 loss to Navua in the group stage to clinch the championship title. “Navua is a strong team, and they pushed us hard,” he remarked.
Known as the Babasiga Lions, Labasa was led on the field by 42-year-old goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau. Labasa will return home today with a prize of $25,000, while Navua takes home $6,000. Tensions ran high during the match, with Labasa midfielder Akeimi Ralulu and Navua’s Saimoni Damuni both receiving red cards in the second half, resulting in each team playing with ten men.