Ba target Nausori win
Vodafone Premier League defending champions Ba are determined to start their campaign on a winning note against Rewa at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori, this Sunday.
This was after Ba lost the Pillay’s Garment Champions versus Champion Series to Labasa, last Sunday. Now coached by former All Whites coach Ricki Herbert, Ba officials have signed up Samuela Drudru, Laisenia Raura, Beniamino Mateinaqara, Benjamin Totori along with Vanuatu duo- Micah Tommy and Jason Thomas,
The Men in Black now have one of the strongest squad registered for this season.
According to coaches Shalen Lal and Ronil Kumar, while the team would want to ensure its VPL title defence, the first few games would be taken as a build-up to the Oceania Champions League before having their first game against Auckland City on March 2.
Also featuring for the Ba squad for their last season are regulars Abbu
Zahid, Malakai Rakula, Ilimotama Jese, Malakai Tiwa, Kishan Sami and Praneel Naidu to name a few. The hosts Rewa are determined not to let down their fans after a disappointing run last year.
It’s understood that Rewa Football has signed up a few prominent players to boost their campaign. Meanwhile, Samoan club Lupe Ole Soaga SC have qualified for the group stages of the OFC Champions League 2020 following a 0-0 draw with Tupapa Maraerenga FC in Auckland on Tuesday.
In the end, a draw was all Lupe needed to advance from the Qualifying Stage after they opened the three-team qualifying tournament with a 2-0 win over Veitongo FC last Saturday.
Lupe will join Group D in the Champions League which includes Auckland City FC (New Zealand), Ba FC (Fiji) and AS Venus (Tahiti). The runner-up will enter Group C featuring AS Magenta (New Caledonia), AS Tiare Tahiti (Tahiti) and the Solomon Warriors (Solomon Islands).