Veteran striker Christopher Wasasala once again played a pivotal role for the Labasa football team, leading them to a 5-3 victory in the penalty shootout against Navua in the FMF Inter District Championship final held at Lautoka’s Churchill Park last night.
In an interview, Wasasala expressed his determination to succeed when he approached the crucial penalty kick, aiming to silence any critics. “I was resolute that the penalty would go in, particularly after missing one in our semi-final win,” he stated. He emphasized the team’s resilience, recounting how he informed his teammates that he would be the fifth kicker to clinch the victory, dedicating the win to Labasa fans.
The goals for Labasa were contributed by Anish Khem, Sekove Naivakananumi, Rusiate Doidoi, and Lekima Gonerau. On the side of Navua, the goals came from Ali Mekawir, Filipe Baravilala, and Jared Rongosulia, while Vineet Chand had a missed attempt.
Labasa’s coach, Ravneel Pratap, expressed deep emotional attachment, highlighting that the district’s pride motivated the team’s performance. He acknowledged the support from fans, sponsors, and officials throughout a challenging season, particularly praising their sponsor, Extra Supermarket, for their assistance.
Pratap noted the remarkable turnaround for Labasa after previously losing 3-0 to Navua in the group stage, reflecting on the competitiveness of Navua as a worthy opponent.
Known as the Babasiga Lions, Labasa was led by their 42-year-old goalkeeper, Simione Tamanisau. The team returns home today with a prize of $25,000, while Navua earns $6,000. The match also saw red cards issued to Labasa’s Akeimi Ralulu and Navua’s Saimoni Damuni during the second half, resulting in both teams finishing the match with ten players.