Through blood, sweat, tears and tragedy, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial School has retained their Coca-Cola Games Girls' division title for which head coach Waliki Tiko Satakala has acknowledged the parents, Gujarat Education Society and the Marist Club.
MGM High won 15 gold, 8 silver and 5 bronze, Adi Cakobau School came in second place with 7 gold, 4 silver and 9 bronze, while Natabua High School is third with 5 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze.
Satakala says it sank in yesterday that they had gone ahead and built a comprehensive lead, and today was just formalities.
While crediting the athletes, the coach says the personal drive has to be greater than the coaches’.
He has also highlighted that it was an emotional period for athlete Tamara Ralagi, who lost her mother on Saturday, and won silver in the Junior Girls High Jump and bronze in the Long Lump event of her grade.
Satakala says he had to break the news to Ralagi with his daughter on Sunday, and when they later went to the LDS Church on Grantham Road, the message that day was about supporting and consoling someone who has lost a loved one.
He says Ralagi initially appeared cheerful, but when he took her away from everyone else and shared the news with her, the reality of losing her mother began to sink in.
Satakala says he spent quite some time consoling her after she realised her mum would no longer be around.
He says with her father and and the entire family’s backing, it was decided that she would continue with the competition.
The further coach says one of the main challenges is managing athletes who have multiple coaches, sometimes two or three, which can create differences in training methods and require constant realignment as a team.
He says another challenge is the varied family backgrounds of students, with different levels of financial and resource support affecting athletes’ overall wellbeing.
To address this, the team maintains regular communication with parents to help them understand the demands of training, including fitness and dietary requirements.
He adds that while families invest significantly in their children, this often comes with high expectations.
Satakala has also highlighted that it’s not just about results at MGM, it’s about the enjoyment the athletes experience and at the same time, there is support from the school and also the wider school community, which is the Gujarat Education Society.
He says Education Society is doing a great job in trying to set a trend for other schools that look after student athletes and help set them up for life.
Insert: MGM on athletics and education 2nd may
Celebrations will held when Term 2 begins in 2 weeks.
