Labasa keeps low profile

The Crest Fiji Primary Schools netball tournament is being described 'as a festival of netball' being showcased with the highest attendance of participating teams in 2026.

Labasa Town Council special ad­ministrator, Samuela Ligairi, said more than 2000 players and officials competed at Subrail Park in pursuit to win various national grade titles.

This tournament would be remem­bered by the netball enthusiast in Labasa and the Northern Division for a long time.

Host team, Labasa District, aims to win a few of the grades from Under 9 to Ul4.

Labasa head coach, Mary Tikoibua, said there was a lot of pressure on them to deliver quality performanc­es in all their matches across the next three days.

"We feel a lot of pressure playing on our home turf, the girls can feel it and so do us officials," she said.

Tikoibua had taken the 'underdog tag' for the competition.

With the high game intensity brought by Viti Levu teams and powerhouses, Suva and Nasinu, they are determined to live up to the expectations of their supporters.

In an upset result in the Ul4 grade, they drew with Nasinu, which she described a sign of the progress of the side.

"So far, we have seen improvement in game performances on the open­ing day," Tikobua said.

Labasa District has fielded 12 teams (120 players), two each per grade to enhance their chances of winning.

Tikoibua said they started early with their preparation starting in the second week of the first term.