To some it may be just an ordinary win but it meant so much more for the Lami High School under-19 team as they gradually change perspectives in their community.
Lami’s fairy tale run has been capped off with a historic Vodafone Super Deans under-19 win yesterday.
The side defeated Queen Victoria School 20-19 in the final to take home the trophy.
“When I took over the team as a coach, I saw so many children from Lami travelling to Suva for studies. After this win, I believe wholeheartedly that the kids from Lami will take pride in this school and would choose to attend it,” head coach Beniamino Kaikaivalu said.
The support from the school has been tremendous from the southern zone with a huge crowd turning up yesterday in their yellow t-shirts to cheer them on.
The supporters, kids mostly, have been closely following the team, even boarding the team buses after their games.
Lami High has been scrutinized since their quarter-final win against Ratu Kadavulevu School two weeks ago with allegations that tainted their image.
However, it brought the players more closer than ever as they used those criticism to drive their pursuit for victory banking on divine intervention for the strength to get them through.
“I took their phones away from them to deny them access on social media and from all the criticism. I took their phones away so that they can turn all their focus on the game. With the word of God, we molded our players to believe in themselves and have the confidence that they can defeat any school in Fiji,” Kaikaivalu added.
On top of the win, three of their players have been approached to join the Fijian Drua academy and three more for Fiji Rugby’s high-performance unit.
