Ba Announce Team to OFC Champions League
THE SQUAD WILL FURTHER BE REDUCED TO AN 18-MEMBER CONTINGENT BEFORE THE TEAM FLY OUT TO PORT VILA, VANUATU ON FEBRUARY 21
The Ba football team have announced their 23-member squad to the OFC Champions League later this month.
The Western giants kick-off this year’s campaign on February 23 against defending champions, Team Wellington, in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Former Nadi defender Ilimotama Jese is a notable inclusion in the squad, made up mostly of local-based players, including the experienced Malakai Tiwa and Avinesh Suwamy.
Ba’s only foreign player is the 19-year-old Solomon Islander forward Darold Kakasi.
Amena Bolaitamana, Kini Madigi, Simione Nabenu and Kalaveti Sivoi, four of the five national Under-23 triallists allegedly assaulted by head coach Christophe Gamel, have also been included.
Team manager, Arvind Singh, says the morale in camp was high ahead of their first match at Korman Stadium.
“Wellington will be a tough opponent but we have beaten New Zealand teams in the past so it will depend on the mindset of the boys on the day,” Singh said.
“The players have been working hard in training and the combinations seems to be clicking and the confidence is high.
“If we play to our strengths, yes, we can make the semi-finals or even further but we are taking one game at a time.”
The team will be coached by former player Ronil Kumar, with Shailend Lal as his assistant.
Before the team fly out on February 21, Suva lies in wait in the Vodafone Premier League this Sunday. Singh says Ba will use the match, scheduled for 3PM at the ANZ Stadium, as the perfect build-up for the Champions League.
“Suva have a good set of players and will be a solid test for us,” he said.