Despite having only three days of training, the MaiLife Labasa women’s team beat Suva 2-0 at the ANZ Stadium, Suva yesterday.

Due to lack of proper training grounds, the team lost to Ba 2-4, in their opening match of the Digicel Women’s Super League last week.

But yesterday the presence of veterans like referee Sofi Diyalowai, Matelita Vuakoso and Viniana Simmons boosted the side.

Coach Arthur Simmons acknowledged the hard work in securing their first win for the season.

“Not only three days training but managed to get the full team today. Normally only five or six players turned up,” he said.

“We had a lot of injuries against Ba, the weather hampered our training but I would like to thank the girls for the good result.

“We started to drop the players that did not come for training. We’ve a new bunch of girls, a few were first timers today and they stood up to the test.

“I think they will improve as we go along,” Simmons added.

Labasa will host Tailevu/Naitasiri at Subrail Park this week.

“We played them before and they are a different team now. They are very strong but we think we should put a good challenge at home,” Simmons said.

“One of the big positives is having faith in your subs.

“And the way they played, they are the ones who come for training every afternoon, the young girls.

“Of course you need the veterans to guide the young ones, they might be a bit slow now coming towards the end of their career, you still need the experience in there,” he added.

What happened: Labasa started strongly with Diyalowai scoring their first goal in the 22nd minute. Halftime: Labasa 1-0 Suva

Suva could not find any chance to equalise as former national goalkeeper Matelita Vuakoso denied them.

Vitorina Veikoso, 19, extended  Labasa’s lead in the 65th minute.

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