St. Theresa Nukubalavu’s Under-20 captain, Rafaele Dagaga, is maintaining a positive outlook following his team’s semifinal defeat to Village Boys in the youth category of the McDonald’s Coral Coast 7s. Dagaga characterized the experience as an essential learning opportunity for his young squad.
This marked the first time Nukubalavu participated in the prestigious tournament, and despite the disappointment of the loss, the team surpassed expectations by reaching the semifinals, facing off against much more seasoned competitors.
“Yeah of course we’re disappointed with the loss but we’ll take the learning,” Dagaga reflected. “We did not expect to even make it to the semifinal as this is our first time participating in the Coral Coast 7s.”
The captain expressed optimism, noting that the challenges faced in the tournament have illuminated specific areas for improvement as they prepare for future events. “We’ll go back and work on our errors,” he stated, emphasizing that the exposure from competing at the Coral Coast 7s will significantly contribute to the team’s development in the long run.
The Coral Coast 7s continues at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka, showcasing the talent and determination of young athletes as they elevate their skills and experience through such competitive environments.