VODAFONE Cup men’s defending champions, the Namuaniwaqa Sea Eagles, are fired up and determined to retain their title in this year’s tournament.
Their victory last year was the ultimate underdog tale, as they defied all expectations to win the competition in their debut season.
In a nail-biting 2025 grand final, they edged out the Vusu Raiders 32–30 in a thrilling golden-point showdown at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Captain Kelevi Balia revealed that preparations have been ramped up as the team gears up for their opening match this Saturday.
“We are ready to defend our title. We know it won’t be easy, but we’ve been training hard through the off-season and pre-season,” he said.
Being a village-based team, financial backing and access to proper training facilities have been significant challenges that the Sea Eagles have had to overcome.
“We’ve had to get creative with our training since we don’t have a proper gym in the village,” Balia explained.
“Our trainer has been making use of tyres, logs, the beach, and whatever else is available locally to help us reach the fitness levels needed for the competition.”
Comprising entirely of village youth, the team’s tight-knit bond has forged exceptional chemistry and cohesion on the field, which remains one of their biggest strengths.
“Two core values drive us: unity and faith,” said Balia.
“Unity so we can play seamlessly as one team and proudly represent our village, and faith to place our trust in the man above, guiding us both on and off the field.”
The Namuaniwaqa Sea Eagles will kick off their title defence by facing the Saru Dragons at 2pm in their season opener.
