Labasa women’s football team striker Cema Nasau scooped the Golden Boot and Golden Ball Award during the Digicel Women’s Inter District Championship final at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.
The former Ba rep scooped the Golden Boot award after scoring nine goals in the tournament.
Nasau dedicated her win and success to her father Osea Nasau and her sisters who are her pillar of strength.
“I really worked hard to win this tournament because it’s for my dad and my sisters.
“Labasa is a good team with good players and I joined them to see how they train and play. That’s the reason. Nobody was in support but my dad was always there. He came to all my games and even today he is here. I’m proud of that.
“My only aim is to make my family proud because they are always there during my hard times and that’s something I take with me when I enter the pitch. Family is the reason for my football success and talent.”
Nasau said it wasn’t easy departing Ba women’s team to join the Babasiga Lionesses as she received negative remarks from people on her joining Labasa.
But she said her 65-year-old dad ,who is a local farmer and fisherman, stood in support for her and also witnessed all her matches at Lawaqa Park in Nadroga and at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.
“It was a really tough call to join Labasa and it was my personal decision.
“I want to explore football opportunities in Fiji and that’s why I made a move to Labasa.
“Labasa is always Ba’s tough opponent and I wanted to see how the other teams in Fiji are playing and training and that interested me in joining.
“People criticised me because I made a big move from Ba. But they don’t know the reason for the move and they just said that I was showing off my football talent.”
The 22-year-old, who was the 2019 Female Footballer of the Year, also revealed that she wants to don the national jumper for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers this year.
“My mum was a big soccer fan not because she married my dad but she just loved the sport and I really miss her.
“I’m determined to be part of the Fiji team at the qualifiers in June.
“I know it’s a challenging course but I’m just trying to fulfil her dream. I still remember her in every game I play.
“Fitness will be a huge factor but I have already begun working on that and I’m content that with head coach Lisa Cole, I’ll make better goals for Fiji.”
The Labasa women’s team received $4000, a trophy and also the Fair Play Team award.
Runners up Ba walked away with $1500 prize money while Rewa’s Seruwai Vasitoga received the Golden Glove award.
