TUVU Primary School has given its school community plenty to celebrate after producing a historic campaign at the recent Lautoka Primary Inter- Primary Football Competition.
For the first time in the school’s history, both the boys’ and girls’ teams reached the finals, finishing the tournament as proud runners-up.
For head coach Avnil Naidu, the achievement was about more than the trophies. It was a reflection of the commitment, discipline and determination shown by the young players throughout the tournament.
The boys enjoyed a memorable run to the final, recording a nil-all draw against Warabetia Muslim, a 2-0 victory over Dreketi Sangam, another nil-all draw against Satya Sai and a 1-0 win over Qalito.
Their reward was a place in the final against Warabetia Muslim, where they fought bravely before going down 1-0 in a closely contested encounter.
For the girls, reaching the final continued a remarkable run of consistency. Tuvu has now recorded three consecutive runners-up finishes in the girls’ competition — a feat that highlights the strength and development of the school’s football program.
The girls defeated Satya Sai 1-0 and Qalito 1-0, while suffering a 2-0 loss to Dreketi Sangam and drawing nil-all with Warabetia Muslim in the earlier matches.
They earned another opportunity to claim the title when they faced Dreketi Sangam in the final, but after a tense contest, the match was decided on penalties.
Although both teams fell just short of the ultimate prize, their performances have created a significant milestone for Tuvu Primary.
Naidu praised his players for their courage, discipline and teamwork, while also acknowledging the families and supporters who stood behind the teams throughout the competition.
The strong support from the sidelines, he said, gave the players the energy to keep fighting.
The campaign was also a reflection of the work put in behind the scenes, with Naidu guiding the teams and Shanita Naidu managing the teams with care a partnership that has helped create a positive football environment for the young players.
For Tuvu Primary, the Inter-Primary campaign is more than a collection of results. It represents progress. It represents belief and most importantly, it has shown the school’s young footballers that they can compete with the best in Lautoka.
With both teams reaching the finals and the girls maintaining their remarkable three-year run as runners-up, Tuvu Primary has laid a strong foundation for an even brighter future in school football.
