The under-19 girls’ cricket competitions are actively taking place every Saturday as part of the preparations for selecting a national team to compete in a qualifier meet scheduled for this April. Joeli Mateyawa, the development manager of Cricket Fiji, shared this information during the latest round of competition at Albert Park in Suva.
Mateyawa emphasized that the selection aims to form a team for the qualifiers for the 2027 Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in Papua New Guinea this April. He noted, “That’s what this competition is about, but overall, we do this program every year in the first term.”
The competition includes matches for both under-19 boys and girls, alongside events for primary schools and senior categories. The under-19 competition in Suva is being conducted concurrently with another tournament happening in Nadi at Denarau, with a total of six teams participating there.
As the competition progresses, Mateyawa highlighted the diversity of talent, showcasing cricketers from both urban and rural schools. He pointed out the strong representation from Tailevu North College, which has consistently participated in large numbers. Additionally, he recognized the ongoing dominance of schools from the Lami corridor, such as Suva Grammar School and Adi Cakobau School, known for their excellent talent pool in cricket.
Yesterday at Albert Park, several schools showcased their skills, including Lami High School, Lomary Secondary School, Lelean Memorial School, Suva Grammar School, John Wesley College, and Tailevu North College. The initiative aims to nurture young talent and foster a passion for cricket among the youth, promising a bright future for the sport in Fiji.