THE Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School under-17 girl’s futsal side displayed grit and determination to secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Pundit Vishnu Deo Memorial College during their last pool match in the Fiji Secondary Schools Futsal Championships at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva yesterday.
Team manager Shidharth Chand praised his players for overcoming a challenging build-up to the match, which included academic pressures and unfavourable weather conditions.
“The girls were always on a high, even though some had exams and the weather wasn’t good. They came through and executed the game plan well,” Chand said.
The draw came as a morale booster for the MGM side, who were reeling from a loss against Vunimoli Islamia in their second pool match on Thursday.
MGM showed their fighting spirit throughout the match.
“Our girls are fighters, they go till the end,” Chand said.
The team expects the semifinal match against Labasa College to be a stern test.
“It’s going to be very tough, like a final. We must be mentally and physically prepared, but I believe the girls are ready to make the school proud.”
The MGM side failed to qualify for the IDC competition last year but this year they not only qualified but topped their zone.
“We were runners-up last year, and this year we’ve come through as the Southern Secondary Schools champions, so all eyes are on us,” Chan said.
The team acknowledged the support from parents, staff, and the school community and are also urging fans to turn out in numbers for the semi-final clash today.
“We want the families and supporters to come. When there’s a crowd, the girls perform even better.”
Chand also commended the girls for their commitment and performance.
MGM will take on Labasa College in the second U17 semifinal at 9.30am today.
