Digicel Fiji Kula women’s representatives Vanisha Kumar, Sofi Diyalowai and Anasimcei Volitikoro are happy with their individual performances after helping Labasa win the first-ever Women’s Pillay Garments Champion v Champion match on Sunday.
The trio were behind the success of the Labasa women’s side winning the inaugural competition after beating Ba 4-3 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Australia-based Kumar, who joined the national women’s side ahead of the Pacific Four Nations last year, was instrumental again in Labasa’s win.
Kumar said she joined Labasa because she had a lot of friends who were in the team and also part of the Fiji Kulas.
“It was a good opportunity for me to form that bond and game chemistry with them as they look forward to upcoming tournaments,” she said.
The Digicel Kula Girls side finished third at the Pacific Four Nations tournament in Canberra, Australia last year after the side was held to a 1-all draw by the Solomon Islands in their last pool match.
“One of the downfall in the Pacific Nations Cup last year was that I didn’t spend much time with them, but if we had that time together it would have a different result,” Kumar said.
“Hopefully this year when we have our tournaments that will be a factor to help us win.”
National women’s football captain Diyalowai is another upcoming dual sports player.
She made her debut for the Savusavu women’s rugby side during the 2023 McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s tournament this year.
The 29-year-old captained the national side to the Pacific Four Nations Cup in Australia in November.
Diyalowai, who hails from Natokalau, Kubulau in Bua, says she will head back to camp and analyse her performance.
She says she will look into her skills and fitness and hope to lift it to another level.
“As national players, we must always show good example especially on our performance when playing in local or overseas competitions,” she said.
The Labasa football mid-fielder is not new to the rugby field as she featured for the Macuata 15s side in 2011.
