Unbeaten Suva face test in Ba

The Maxwell Thaggard-coached Suva side aims to end Vodafone Premier League round one unbeaten when they face Ba at the Fiji FA Academy Ground this Saturday.

After edging Nadi 1-0 at Prince Charles Park last Sunday, both sides would like to win the final dress rehearsal before the Punjas Battle of the Giants tournament kicks off next week. Suva Football Association president Ritesh Pratap said: “We are playing the Men in Black in Ba this weekend. The focus is to improve after a close win against Nadi. We will have to improve big time. Comparing our game against Nadi, Nadi was all over us and we need to improve.”

National rep Iosefo Verevou, Solomon international Patrick Taroga and Nigerian import Jibola Fonja were expected to be part of the capital side.

Pratap said they would be using the match to test their combinations for the B.O.G that would be played at Churchill Park, Lautoka.

Ba stars return

Star striker Saula Waqa and Manasa Nawakula will make a return for Ba on Saturday.

Waqa has served his red card suspension since the 2-0 loss to Nasinu. Nawakula has served his double yellow card suspension as well. Star goalkeeper Misiwane Narube and veteran Malakai Tiwa are yet to recover from injuries. Ba Football team manager Ranveer Singh said the Ba side was on high after a 2-1 win over Labasa last Saturday.

“This is a good test for the boys as they are in the same pool in the B.O.G. We ask Ba fans to come out in numbers to support the team,” Singh said.

Other teams in Pool A are defending B.O.G champions Labasa and Nasinu while Lautoka, Rewa, Nadi and Navua make up Pool B. com.fj