THE Nasinu Secondary School Panthers Under-15 rugby league side are primed for the ultimate test on Saturday as they take on the Gospel High School Saints in the fiercely contested Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League final.
Technical adviser Taniela Vakamoce has been the steady hand behind the scenes, shaping a team that thrives on grit and belief.
“It’s been a long road, but we treat every match like a final,” Vakamoce said.
Despite hurdles like poor ground conditions and limited equipment, the Panthers have remained focused, their eyes fixed firmly on the prize. The upcoming clash with Gospel is no easy task. The Saints, who finished second in the zone, previously outpowered Nasinu in the semi-finals. But Vakamoce is confident his boys will execute their game plan well and get one back against the Saints.
“We know the challenge ahead and are ready to tighten our defence and fix the weaknesses exposed earlier,” he said.
Mental strength has been key in the Panthers journey they worked hard to change that mindset.
“It’s about belief. Once they believed in themselves, everything changed. Focus on one, and the rest will step up.”
Rugby league is a team game, and Vakamoce stressed the importance of unity over star players. Vakamoce calls on fans to turn out in numbers.
