Veteran striker Christopher Wasasala once again proved pivotal for the Labasa football team as they clinched a dramatic 5-3 victory in a penalty shootout against Navua during the grand final of the FMF Inter District Championship at Lautoka’s Churchill Park last night.
In an interview, Wasasala revealed his mindset as he approached the crucial penalty kick, vowing to silence his critics after previously missing a penalty in the semi-final. “I had made up my mind that it was going in, as I wanted to salvage my reputation,” he stated. He emphasized the importance of teamwork and dedication, expressing his commitment to being the final kicker and securing the win for Labasa. “I dedicate this win to all Labasa fans out there,” he added.
The other goals for Labasa were contributed by Anish Khem, Sekove Naivakananumi, Rusiate Doidoi, and Lekima Gonerau, while Navua’s goals came from Ali Mekawir, Filipe Baravilala, and Jared Rongosulia, with an additional attempt by Vineet Chand going wide.
An emotional Labasa coach, Ravneel Pratap, spoke to the importance of district pride in their journey. He acknowledged the difficulties of the season but thanked the fans, sponsors, and officials for their unwavering support, noting that Extra Supermarket provided essential resources for the team.
Pratap reflected on the triumph of overcoming a previous 3-0 defeat to Navua in the group stage, stating, “Navua is a good team and they gave us a good game.” The Babasiga Lions, as they are known, were led by veteran goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau, who is 42 years old.
Labasa returns home today with a cash prize of $25,000, while Navua receives $6,000. The match also saw Labasa midfielder Akeimi Ralulu and Navua’s Saimoni Damuni both receiving red cards in the second half, leaving both teams to finish the match with ten players.