The will to carry on
DEDICATION, determination, discipline, sacrifice, and hard work was the key to the success of the Tailevu Naitasiri Women’s team as they created history by qualifying for the 2022 Digicel Women’s IDC semi-finals for the first time.
Coach Laisani Mataele said the players had sacrificed a lot for the love of football and the sky blue jersey.
“Despite facing so many challenges, the girls have bonded together and hats off to them,” said Mataele.
The team has been in camp at Mataele’s residence in Burekalou lane, Nadali, Nausori for the past week and will continue this week until the semi-finals.
Mataele said majority of the players were students.
“My team consists of school students who have their exams this week but they sacrificed a lot and studied late at night,” Mataele said.
“They have been very committed to their studies and also to football.
“After our last game on Sunday the girls went back to their studies and they were so tired that they slept with their books on their chest which shows how happy they are to play football.
“Three of my players are in Year 13 which includes Adi Litia Bakaniceva, Bernard Penjueli, and Sereima Rokotanaka, who will sit for their external exams next week.
“I have the support of my mother, our vice-president Adi Senidalo Fane Cinavilakeba and team manager Avisaki Bania Toro who provide the girls with their breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
“We cook our meals in the open fire oven as we do not have enough money to buy gas and other stuff but we managed to feed our players from our pockets and the support from the parents as well.
“It is not an easy journey for us, but for the love of football we have sacrificed a lot to overcome everything and I thank the parents of the players for their support.
“We do not have support from our association but the parents have been very supportive which is the strength behind our success is also.
“We could not buy ice for the ice bath but we use the Rewa River to do our therapy and the girls did not complain and did what we could do.”
The 2018 Fiji FA Coach of the Year says she has faith in her young players.
“I have very young players and the youngest one is in class five and my goalkeeper Roselyn Sarafina who performed gallantly is in form four at Bau College,” Mataele said.
She dedicated their semi-qualification to her mum.
“I dedicate our historic qualification to the semi-finals to my mother and all the parents,” Mataele said.
“We will be heading to the semifinals with our heads held high as no one expected us to be in the top four but we will go in as underdogs. We will face the defending champions Labasa and we are not scared of them but I have faith in my young brigadiers.
“We will work out our plans and the morale in camp is high as the girls are excited and looking forward to playing in front of the huge crowd on Saturday.”
Mataele thanked Fiji FA for the support and development of women’s football in the country.
‘Thanks to Fiji FA for supporting us with traveling and meals grant and also with other equipment,” added Mataele
Tailevu Naitasiri defeated Nadi 2-0 in its opening match and went down 0-7 against Ba and regroup to beat the experienced Suva side 3-0 in its final pool match.
Tailevu Naitasiri and Labasa match kicks off at 10.30 am on Saturday at Prince Charles Park in Nadi. ■