Excitement filled the air at the Fiji Football Association’s academy grounds in Suva as the Ba women’s football team triumphed over Labasa with a score of 2-1, securing the prestigious Fiji FA Women’s Inter-District Championship title. This victory caps off an impressive performance from the Ba squad over three days of intense competition in the capital.
Sereana Naweni ignited the celebrations with a goal just before halftime in the 45th minute, and Luisa Tamanitoakula extended the lead with another goal in the 65th minute. Although Labasa managed to pull one back with a goal from Selai Nai in the 75th minute, it was not enough to turn the tide in their favor.
Throughout the match, Ba made strategic substitutions in the 55th and 73rd minutes, while Labasa initiated three changes, including one at halftime and two more in the closing minutes of the match.
Ba’s head coach, Charlene Lockington, praised her team’s determination and hard work, emphasizing that their mindset throughout the tournament was focused on becoming champions. “When Labasa scored, I told them during a water break; we don’t just want to be winners, we want to be champions because we’ve worked hard for it,” Lockington stated. She acknowledged the sacrifices made by her players leading up to this significant victory.
On the other hand, Labasa’s coach Roneel Ram expressed his disappointment over the outcome but highlighted his pride in his team’s efforts. “That was not what I had expected, but I’m very proud of the way my girls played, especially considering Ba has a very strong lineup of experienced players, including senior and national age category representatives,” Ram noted.
This championship victory for Ba not only serves as a testament to their hard work but also showcases the growing competitiveness of women’s football in Fiji, promising an exciting future for the sport in the region.