VONOLAGI: BA WILL BE OUT

FOR REVENGE IN OUR BATTLE OPENER ON FRIDAY

Nasinu football coach, Tagi Vonolagi hopes his players would recover on time

before the Punjas Battle of the Giants (B.O.G) tournament starts on Friday.

The side have been working on their fitness despite knowing that it would be too late. Nasinu take on Ba in their first game at 4pm at Churchill Park, Lautoka.

Injured are senior players Jone Nareba, Joseph Mishra, Viliame Rakuro and Isikeli Ratucava.

“At the moment we have the same squad, but there are a lot of injuries,” Vonolagi said.

“From the game against Ba, we had senior players who were injured, they have not fully recovered yet. “We are working now on fitness, which is too late but I hope the boys will cope. We hope that they will recover in time.” The former national football captain said they are working on their transition from attack to defence.

“That is when we attack we need to immediately fall back in defence. The transition of it is what we are working hard on.”

Vonolagi said for Rakuro, talks are underway to get a replacement goalkeeper.

Nasinu scored an upset 2-0 win over Ba in their Vodafone Premier League clash last month.

“Ba will want to take revenge after we beat them.

“We always respect the Ba team, they are one of the oldest football teams in the country so we have so much respect for them.”

“They will always come up with a good team, even if they fill in their under-13, it’s still a Ba team.” Vonolagi added that there is not enough time for recovery but having both the Vodafone Premier League and B.O.G within a month has added more pressure to the players.

“There is more pressure on the players but they love to play, and to be back on the field after three months of non-active sports,” he added.