Veteran striker Christopher Wasasala once again proved to be the hero for the Labasa football team, leading them to a 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 expressed his determination as he approached the crucial penalty kick, motivated to silence his critics after previously missing a penalty in the semi-finals. He stated, “I had made up my mind that it was going in, as I wanted to salvage my reputation.”
He emphasized the challenges faced by the team leading up to the final, asserting his commitment to taking the fifth kick to secure the win for Labasa and dedicating the victory to their passionate fan base.
Other goals for Labasa during the match were scored by Anish Khem, Sekove Naivakananumi, Rusiate Doidoi, and Lekima Gonerau. Navua’s goals came from Ali Mekawir, Filipe Baravilala, and Jared Rongosulia, while Vineet Chand missed his attempt.
Labasa’s coach, Ravneel Pratap, expressed the team’s motivation stemmed from district pride and acknowledged the support from fans, sponsors, and officials throughout their tough season. He commended Extra Supermarket for their unwavering assistance to the team.
Reflecting on their journey, Pratap noted their remarkable comeback from a previous 3-0 loss to Navua during the group stage to win in the final, praising Navua’s performance.
Labasa, also known as the Babasiga Lions, were captained by 42-year-old goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau. They will return home today with a prize of $25,000, while Navua will receive $6,000. Both teams played with 10 men after Labasa midfielder Akeimi Ralulu and Navua’s Saimoni Damuni were shown red cards in the second half.