SAINT John’s College Cawaci is confident of making a strong challenge for the hockey title, with the school’s boys’ team drawing on the fitness and experience of players who have recently completed the rugby season.
Cawaci competes in the Fiji Secondary Schools Hockey Championships with four teams, featuring the Under-16 girls and boys and Under-19 girls and boys’ categories.
School teacher Lusiana Hawili said the transition from rugby to hockey had been relatively smooth for the boys, with most of the players already fit and accustomed to playing hockey.
“Most of our boys, since there are fewer numbers in our team, are from the Under-18s. Our preparation was good because since they transitioned from rugby to hockey, they were already fit,” Hawili said.
She said the main areas of focus for the team would be its defence and execution of short corners.
“We need to focus on our defence. We must be careful with our defence and our short corners. Other than that, I have a good feeling we’ll take back something to Cawaci”
Cawaci’s Under-19 boys reached the final last year but went down to Levuka Public School.
Hawili said that defeat had motivated the players to go one step further this year.
“We reached the finals and we lost to LPS. We are just encouraging the boys that we can win this year,” she said.
She added that many of the players had been involved in hockey since Under-16 level while also playing rugby, making the transition between the two sports easier.
“Most of them have been playing hockey from Under-16 and they are also joining the rugby team. After the rugby season, they always come and join.”
Hawili also believes hockey continues to develop strongly in Ovalau, despite being regarded as a minor sport in Fiji.
She said all three schools on the island are involved in hockey, with the sport also being passed down through families.
“It has been developing very well because in Ovalau, most of all the three schools, St John’s College, Levuka Public School and Delana Methodist High School Levuka, they all play hockey,” she said.
“Most of the students that are playing hockey right now, their parents used to be hockey reps, and they have that urge in them to also play hockey.”
However, Hawili said Cawaci still needed to work on its weaknesses, particularly in defence, to continue improving.
For the girls, her main hope is for the players to enjoy the sport while also challenging for silverware.
“I would just love for them to enjoy the sport and also love for us to take back the trophy since it has been so long,” she said.
Cawaci last lifted the trophy in 2024 after beating Saint Thomas High School 1-nil in the final but fell short in the final last year against Levuka Public School, making this year’s campaign an opportunity to end a wait for success.
Saint John’s College Under-19 girls at the Nadovu Hockey ground in Lautoka. Picture: KATA KOLI
