Back in top league
Navua claws its way out of the B division after five long years
NESTLED between the hills of Sigatoka and the bright lights of Suva, a small town sat in collective anticipation, listening to radio commentary on what would otherwise have been a lazy Sunday afternoon.
If you’ve ever been part of a small town or district you will know what I mean when I say the air was positively crackling with electricity as it began to dawn on the stalwart residents of Navua that the town’s beloved soccer team had clawed their way out of the B division after five long years.
And as news of Navua’s re-entry into the big league spread through the riverside community, nothing could refrain the elated riverside people from yelling at their neighbours in jubilation or honking their horns through the one street that is Navua’s Broadway of sorts.
Taki’s swung a little bit faster, music turned up several decibels and tears of joy were shed by diehard fans.
Navua soccer was established in 1943 in the balmy days when football players were sporting afros and long hair on the grassy field. Thompson Park, withstanding the ravages of time and floods, would cause you to believe, if you patroned the grounds, that one has travelled back in time.
Despite the conditions, the soccer boys have plodded on with their training, alternating with the local school ground, come rain or shine.
The implementation of the fantastic first-of-it’s-kind stadium by the Uprising Beach Resort has drawn pride out of the hearts of the Serua/Namosi inhabitants, and no doubt played a role in boosting the morale of the boys as they recently hosted tournaments at their swanky new digs.
Because the team is comprised of born and bred Navua lads, their sporting camaraderie can be traced all the way back to the primary school grounds where the players first cut their teeth trying to bend it like Beckham.
This no doubt made the record breaking 15 straight wins even sweeter for the anaconda town boys, buoying their supporters and reviving hope in their fans.
Like many other sporting bodies, Navua Soccer has been hammered with financial and personal difficulties, not to mention some (ahem) perturbed wives, girlfriends, and mothers about the level
of commitment to what seemed, in the recent past, like beating a dying horse. As my overjoyed spouse is fond of saying, “never say never”.
Speaking of him, it appears that since his team gave him a Father’s Day to remember last week, the proud grin he has been sporting seems to have become a permanent fixture.
We cannot do our marketing without being stopped several times to concur with townspeople that yes, hard work does pay off.
While I regard all this with a secondary interest, I cannot help but smile at the beauty of sport. Sport brings people together like nothing else. Sevens rugby, for instance, connects an entire nation to experience joy, pride and the dreaded “moniti sickness”, en masse.
For my hometown, the boys’ rise out of the senior division is especially emotional because of the seemingly endless obstacles they have faced.
The 2015 demotion caused a tumult of waning support from the general public and business houses, bar a loyal few like their constant patrons, the Tui Namosi, Koromakawa Rentals and Tours and steadfast individuals, to having to compete with other higher-paying districts to retain their players.
The soccer boys no doubt breathed a collective sigh of relief when they were able to go home and tell their families that, yes, their commitment, despite the lack of finances, has finally proved to be fruitful. Coming out on top of the senior division automatically means that you qualify for the Premiere League which typically commences, along with the IDC, from October to October.
Navua residents, looking forward to seeing their team up there with the big dogs next month, have had to bite back disappointment when they were made aware of the policy changes the Fiji Football Association claims to have made in December 2018. The policy outlines that the soccer season will henceforth run on a calendar year.
According to officials, while this has put a dampener on some spirits, they are sure faithful anaconda-townies will don that red flag come hell or high water, regardless of which division they compete in.
“I am sure we can all agree that 2019 has flown past, and for this small town, residents are willing it to pass by even faster.
“Roll on September 2020, the boys in red are proud to announce that they are back in the game.”