RAM Sami Nasinu Women’s team head coach Tomasi Katonivualiku has praised his players for their determination and discipline after they were crowned the new Subrails Marama Cup champions yesterday.
Nasinu delivered a commanding performance to dethrone defending champions Namosi 62-24 in the competition final at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Katonivualiku credited the Almighty God for giving his players the strength, wisdom and courage to rise to the occasion and produce an outstanding performance.
He also acknowledged the commitment of his players, saying they remained focused and refused to lower their guard despite the challenges they faced during the match.
Katonivualiku said his involvement with work commitments had limited his time with the team, but he was grateful that the players continued to respond positively to his guidance and discussions.
At halftime, with Namosi expected to increase the pressure, Katonivualiku urged his players to maintain possession and strengthen their defensive efforts.
He identified the midfield as an area that required particular attention, knowing Namosi would become more challenging in that department as the match progressed.
“My message at halftime was to keep possession, keep the ball away and also work on their defence and leg speed,” he said.
“We knew the Namosi girls were becoming harder on us, especially in the midfield position.”
Katonivualiku also highlighted the importance of maintaining a balanced approach when selecting his impact players.
Rather than relying solely on replacements to change the momentum, he opted to introduce several of his key players from the start to establish control of the contest.
He said Nasinu needed a balanced game to counter the strength of their opponents.
The emphatic victory capped a successful campaign for Nasinu, who produced a clinical display to end Namosi’s reign and claim the prestigious Subrails Marama Cup title.
