Natabua prefers underdog tag
THE Natabua High School will go in as the underdogs against favourites Jasper Williams High School in the Weetbix Raluve under-18 final at Churchill Park in Lautoka today.
NHS went down to JWHS in the Lautoka competition earlier this year.
Sprinter Ofa Lagonilakeba will be one of the key players for NHS. She claimed the 200metre gold medal in the senior girls during the Coca Cola Games this year.
NHS coach Inoke Vucago said they also have a couple of athletes from the senior girl’s 4x100m relay team as well.
Vucago said their preparations had gone very well.
“The school has supported the team greatly in terms of the training camp and the essentials we needed to prepare for this important game,” he said.
“The team is injury free. There are a lot of expectations from the team especially after making it into the finals.
“We are representing the school in the Raluve competition which is being played for the first time.
“This is our lone flag flying in the finals. We missed out in reaching the boys finals for the Deans Trophy and in the Fiji Secondary Schools Football Association competition final as well.”
Vucago said they had a lot of respect for JWHS.
He said rugby was one of the biggest sports for secondary schools in the country.
“For Natabua previously it used to be a male dominated sport but the girls are making headway now,” Vucago said.
“We played Jasper earlier this year and they showed their dominance.
“We know that they have been together for a long time. But for our team the girls range from 15 years to 18 years.
“There are only five girls who are 18 years old. Out of the 35 member squad that we have, there are roughly about ten who have been playing competitive sports like netball.
“Majority picked up a sport for the first time this year and they turned to rugby.
“The main thing is that they are enjoying playing and hopefully it becomes a part of their source of income in the future.”