LAUTOKA relinquishes Labasa of their champions crown in the 2016 Courts Inter-District primary schools final after beating them 5-4 in a penalty shootout.
The final moved to extra time after they ended in a 1-1 draw.
Defending champions Labasa had previously lost to Lautoka during the pool games 2-1.
Lautoka coach Nareen Kumar said his players were confident.
“It was an equally contested game and considering the wet-weather , it affected the team’s performance,” Kumar said.
He commended Labasa for their gallant efforts. The first-half saw both teams scoreless.
Kumar said their game plan was to play in Labasa’s territory and to keep applying pressure.
Lautoka’s captain Ratu Solomone Vukiuvanua and his brigade stuck to their game plan and slowly etched towards Labasa’s danger zones time and time again.
Finally, Lautoka followed suit with an equaliser from their right link player Nilesh Prasad who was left unmarked by after a very structured buildup and saw him blitzing past the Labasa defence and made well placed kick to score their goal.
“I am very happy for my players and I thank all our supporters back home, the parents, teachers and all the schools affiliated to Lautoka Primary School football.”
This win is for all of them for their support and I believe this will mean a lot not only to them but especially to my players who have really made us very proud,” he said.
