Vodafone Fiji’s head of e-commerce and corporate affairs Shailendra Prasad said their Vuvale partnership with the Fiji Secondary Schools League Association has grown leaps and bounds.

Prasad was making the comment during the secondary schools jer­sey presentation at the Vodafone headquarters in Tamavua yester­day.

The Fijian secondary sides (boys and girls) are taking on the touring Australian school sides at Albert Park, Suva on Friday with the inau­gural Vuvale Partnership Shield at stake for the schoolboys’ match.

“This is about the Vuvale part­nership. Since 2006, the sport (rug­by league) has grown leaps and bounds,” Prasad said.

“It’s good to see that out girls and boys are back in action. Sports have been a uniting force for Fiji. We have seen in a number of sports that we are punching above our weights.

“For the first time this year, we are playing international with the vis­iting Australian teams and we are happy to be part of this.”

FSSLA secretary Taniela Vaka­moce acknowledged Vodafone for their continuous support over the years.

“It’s never too late to chase your dream,” Vakamoce said.

“Vodafone has been part of sec­ondary schools’ competition the past 15 years; thank you so much for the financial assistance and de­velopment towards our rising stars who will showcase their talents in the national rugby league.

“It was a short notice in sponsor­ing those outfits but Vodafone man­aged to support both the schoolboys and schoolgirls’ teams.

“This is the first time for the Aus­tralian schoolboys and girls XIII to play here. We will continue to build that foundation with Australian rugby league.”

“They will go out there on the field and play their hearts; we be­lieve they will become victorious at the end of the day.”

Vodafone has been sponsoring the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby League competition since 2006.

Story By: sereana.salalo@fijisun.com.fj