The Labasa Women team was crowned the champion of the Digicel Women’s Inter-District Championship 2021 after beating Ba 4-nil in the final at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.
It was not just the IDC crown but the side was also awarded a Fair Play Team, Golden Boot and Golden Ball award.
Former Ba striker Cema Nasau who made her debut for Labasa scooped the Golden Boot Award for scoring nine goals in the tournament and also was awarded the Best Player of the Tournament.
In the match proper Stella Naivalulevu broke the deadlock in the 15th minute after capitalizing on a deflection from Ba goalkeeper Mereseini Waqali.
Labasa’s attack was too strong in the first half and this landed another goal for the side with a straightforward goal from Cema Nasau.
The National rep dribbled the ball about five meters from the box to slip a goal past the Ba keeper.
The Babasiga Lions led 2-nil at halftime.
Labasa maintained the pressure in the second half and Adi Anasimeci Volitikoro took a powerful shot that went past the Ba goalkeeper for the side’s third goal in the 66th minute.
It was in the 80th minute Nasau scored her second goal to seal the victory for the Babasiqa Lions.
Labasa coach Arthur Simmons said it was his aim to win the title this year.
“It was my aim and I am happy the girls did their best to win and gave all their heart out,”
“We have been trying for the past two years but we failed and I was confident we will win this year,”
“We knew we will end playing final against Ba. So we prepared well for this final despite the bad weather we faced in Labasa we managed to come through.”
This is Labasa’s fourth IDC title win and the last they won in 2019 beating Ba 2-0 in the final. Both teams have played the final five teams which Ba has won three times.
The Babasiqa Lions walked away with $4000 in prize money while Ba received $1500