Roneel Avnith Ram has turned a breakthrough school futsal campaign into national recognition after being appointed Assistant Coach of the Fiji Under-17 Girls Futsal Team.

Ram guided Labasa College through a remarkable debut season at the Secondary Schools Futsal Competition, leading all four teams — Under-17 Girls, Under-19 Girls, Under-17 Boys, and Under-19 Boys — to the semi-finals in their first appearance at national level.

Under his leadership, the Under-17 girls delivered the standout performance of the tournament, completing the season undefeated and securing the national title after defeating AD Patel College 3–1 in the final.

Ram’s success has now earned him a place within Fiji’s national futsal setup, where he will help prepare the Under-17 girls squad for upcoming Youth Olympic Games preparations and trials.

Reflecting on the achievement, Ram said the team’s success came through sacrifice, discipline, and teamwork, praising his players for their commitment throughout the season.

He also highlighted the importance of football beyond competition, saying the sport helps young people develop valuable life skills such as resilience, leadership, teamwork, and respect.

Ram believes Labasa College’s success story is only the beginning and hopes it will inspire more young players across Fiji to pursue opportunities in futsal and football.