DEFENDING champions, the Army team, made a strong start to the SportsWorld Super League 2026 tournament by securing a victory against Cicia in the opening round at Albert Park in Suva.
Army posted a commendable total of 158 runs, while Cicia fell short, being all out for 113 runs.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Army coach Tupou Colati acknowledged the challenges they faced in terms of preparation for the tournament.
Despite the lack of sufficient time to get ready, Colati reminded his players of the importance of remaining focused and determined to retain their championship title.
“Preparation for this tournament was not well, we didn’t have any time to prepare, but I told the boys coming in as defending champions we need to focus and try and defend our title,” said Colati.
“The boys did well in the first game against Cicia now we will go back and work on our mistakes and come back stronger in other matches to come.”
He recognised the competitive field of teams in this year’s tournament, noting the difficulty of defending a championship but expressing confidence in the team’s experience and abilities.
With a combination of seasoned players from the previous year and three new additions to the squad, Colati expressed optimism about the team’s strength and potential for a successful competition.
“We have some good teams participating this year, as you know winning a tournament is easy but to defend will be a hard task, but I believe in the boys they have experience in the sport, and we hope for the best.
“For our players, we have three new players this year all the rest played last year, so we have a good team, and we are hoping for a good competition.”
Looking ahead to upcoming matches, Colati emphasised the importance of treating each game as a final, underscoring the team’s commitment to delivering their best performance consistently.
