Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School are through to the final of the Vodafone Deans under-15 grade after defeating Queen Victoria School 15-14 at Buckhurst Park in Suva yesterday.
The match was a tight contest for both teams, and in the match’s dying minutes, several attempts by QVS to make a successful penalty kick to extend their score and secure a win proved futile.
After the match, players and team officials gathered together for a prayer and to acknowledge one another for the efforts shown on the field in the 70-minute clash.
Team captain Waisiki Ramatakubou said their victory was thanks to the provision of divine guidance from above.
“I’d like to give the glory to God for this win. You know this win, we just prayed, everything was God’s plan,” Ramatakubou said yesterday.
He said missed opportunities such as penalties for their opponents cost them greatly despite the win.
“We had some discipline cases, we had some penalties. Penalties cost us some points, we lost the first half and it was just God’s plan for us,” he said.
When there were opportunities for QVS to get ahead of MGM with the penalty kicks, he said he told the boys to remain grounded by being humble.
“I just told my boys, you have to be humble. The game is not over and we have to keep on moving,” he shared.
“I knew that if it was a goal, it was not ours, if it’s not a goal, it’s ours.”
MGM will face Suva Grammar in the final.