The South Taveuni Secondary School Under-19 team has been knocked out of the Extra Fiji Secondary Schools Football Championship in Ba, but not without making a mark in their debut appearance at the national level.
Despite their tournament exit, the team secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Natabua High School in their final Under-19 pool match.
Coach Ritik Nehal Sami says it was the school’s first time qualifying for the championship, and he is proud of how his team performed.
South Taveuni opened their campaign with a 1-0 loss to Sigatoka Andhra College and suffered another 1-0 defeat to All Saints Secondary School.
Sami says the experience has been invaluable, and they will come back stronger next year.
In other Under 19 matches, All Saints Secondary School and Sigatoka Andhra College settled for a nil-all draw.
In the Under 17 category, the match between Tilak High School and Ba Sangam College ended in a nil-all draw.
In the Under 15 category, Central College defeated Labasa Muslim College 3-0 while Tavua College and DAV College settled for a 1-all draw.
In the open girls category, defending champions Ba Sanatan College defeated Tavua’s Nilsen College 4-0, Duavata Secondary School defeated Pundit Vishnu Deo Memorial College 1-0, Waiqele College beat Maharishi Sanatan College 4-0, and Central College and Dreketi Central College ended the match in a 2-all draw.
The competition continues in Ba.
The finals will be at Govind Park on Saturday.
