Sterling Maikeli Mociu Vasconcellos will ride on Lautoka’s success last weekend as he prepares to represent the Digicel Bula Boys against Papua New Guinea at the HFC Bank Stadium at 4pm on Sunday.
He celebrated one of his many first achievements over the weekend after being named the Digicel Pacific Fiji FACT Best Player of the Tournament in Labasa.
The 19-year-old, better known as Sterling Vasconcellos, in the football arena and the national defender played an instrumental role for Lautoka, helping the Blues to a 1-0 win over Navua in the final to lift the Fiji FACT title at Subrail Park.
Hard work pays off for those who remain determined and Vasconcellos is a testament to this, having to come off the bench when he started representing his district in major tournaments to being a key figure.
On Sunday he got his hands on his Golden Boot Award and business continued for the young lad who is now in camp with the Bula Boys in preparation for the OFC Men’s Nations Cup.
This was an achievement the former Tilak High School student did not foresee since taking up football in primary school while attending Dreketi Sangam in Lauwaki, Lautoka.
Vasconcellos whose dad is from Hawaii and mum from Yavuna in Nadi said every little success he has celebrated is attained through the endless support of his family.
“My parents, my dad and mum at home as well as my real mum in Nadi, although they’re separated, they are always there supporting me in every way. My dad keeps me on my feet and my mum supports me in every game, she surprised me in Labasa, she came to watch and was cheering me on throughout the tournament,” he said in an interview with this newspaper.
His mum’s presence at the game gave him purpose and a different perspective on his game.
“I was so happy and almost cried but I held it together, gave her a big hug and my golden ball trophy.”
He has won two major titles with Lautoka — the Fiji FACT and the 2023 Digicel Fiji Premier League.
With that out of the way, Vasconcellos who was born and bred in Lautoka is now laser-focused on helping the Fiji football men’s team get the job done at the Nations Cup and to qualify for the World Cup.
