THE scoreline said 22-5 but for Sheree Goergieanna Railala, it said something else.
Keep going.
Uni Fiji Samabula’s first Fiji University Sports Association (FUSA) games campaign ended with defeat to Uni Fiji Saweni in the Plate final yesterday, but the loss could not erase what the young side had achieved in its first taste of tertiary competition.
At the heart of that journey was Railala.
The third-year Bachelor of Science Honours in Nursing student from Matuku, Makadru, Lau, was more than just the side’s halfback.
She was its captain, organiser and voice as the Samabula women navigated three days of competition while juggling the demands of university life.
It was not an easy road.
Some players had academic commitments to work around, while the team also faced difficulties with training and equipment.
Still, they showed up. And they kept playing.
“I’m really proud of the girls for the hard work and the support,” Railala said.
She paid tribute to team manager Lesi, along with the university’s vice-chancellor, teachers and the parents who gave the players permission and support to take part.
For Railala, simply getting the team onto the field was an achievement.
Her own preparation was often squeezed between assignments and nursing studies, but she refused to let the pressure of university life keep her away from the team.
“I tried my best to be there for the team and for the school,” she said.
That commitment comes from a relationship with rugby that began in secondary school.
But the opportunity to lead a new Uni Fiji side gave her another reason to return to the game.
“When our manager said that we’ll be performing, having a team, since this is the first time for us to participate, it inspired me to just participate,” she said.
The Plate final may have ended their campaign, but Railala is already looking beyond it.
She wants the experience to become a foundation for something bigger, both for herself and the team.
“I’ll try my best to at least be in one of those club games,” she said, admitting that representing Fiji one day remains a dream.
For now, her focus is simple.
Work harder. Train better. Return stronger.
“One thing that I told the girls is that we have to give our all in training and then we can perform in the games,” she said.
And to students coming into tertiary education who may doubt whether they belong on the sporting field, Railala has one message.
“Trust yourself and trust the process.”
For Uni Fiji Samabula, the process has started. The 22-5 defeat is the result they leave with.
The experience is what they take forward.
