Labasa’s futsal team experienced a tough yet educational outing against Tailevu Naitasiri in the semi-finals of the Extra Futsal Inter-District Championship held at the Vodafone Arena in Suva. Despite their efforts, Labasa came up short, suffering a narrow 4-3 defeat.
The match began on a high note for Labasa as Ashnil Kumar Raju found the net just two minutes in, giving the team a promising start. However, Tailevu Naitasiri quickly equalized and then took the lead with goals from Neeraj Sharma and Shifraaz Khan, leaving Labasa trailing 2-1 at halftime.
In the second half, Tailevu Naitasiri extended their lead to 3-1 courtesy of a goal from Avishek Deo. Labasa fought back with Simione Ragoneturaga bringing the score to 3-2, but Tailevu Naitasiri responded with another goal from Maciu Tuilau. Although Ashnil Kumar Raju netted his second goal for Labasa, it was not enough to secure a comeback, and the match ended 4-3 in favor of Tailevu Naitasiri.
Labasa coach Imtiaz Begg commended his players for their commitment and hard work throughout the match, expressing disappointment over three missed penalty kicks that could have changed the outcome. “It was hard luck for the boys. We gave it our all in this semi-final, but we fell short,” Begg stated, highlighting that many players were gaining valuable experience in futsal.
Despite the loss, Begg remained optimistic, focusing on the learning opportunities for his young players. He praised their determination and hard work in reaching the semi-finals, viewing it as a significant step in their development.
Tailevu Naitasiri’s victory was bolstered by standout performances, particularly from Shifraaz Khan, who was named the Extra Player of the Match. As the championship progresses, the excitement grows, and teams like Labasa are hopeful that the experience gained will lead to stronger performances in future matches.