Ba falls at Tigers’ roar
REWA continued its tenacious exhibition of winning football by outclassing a determined Ba outfit 2-0 at Churchill Park in Lautoka during round six of the Digicel Premier League games yesterday.
Olympian Setareki Hughes' sublime free kick from 30 metres away from the opposition's goalmouth in the 10th minute of the first-half and Tevita Waranaivalu’s classical header from a well-rehearsed set piece in the 62nd minute were the difference to an entertaining football match.
The Delta Tigers, boasting a classy midfield found Ba's defence square on numerous occasions, however, man-of-thematch and Rewa's stopper Mohammed Alam thwarted waves of Ba attacks and proved to be the major difference.
The match was played under hot and humid weather with an excess of 3000 football fanatics in attendance.
The southerners’ crucial win against the Online Solutions IT-sponsored Ba outfit could prove decisive in the title race when the competition concludes later in the year.
The team still maintains its position in the top-two of the DPL points table.
The winning coach Rodick Singh was elated with the win. “We knew Ba is a top football team and we came with enough transitions to counter them,” he said.
“I am happy with the boys for sticking to the game plan. It’s not always about winning, but rather the player performance and we have been producing the results from our last three games. So far so good for Rewa.”
A dejected Ba football coach, Kamal Swamy lamented the missed goal scoring opportunities by his players.
“We didn't take our chances while our opponents did,” he said.
“Goalscoring is a huge area of concern for the team.” Rewa: (GK) Mohammed Alam (22), Peniame Drova (2), Inoke Turagalailai (4), Patrick Neel Joseph (5), Kishan Sami (6), Anish Khem (7), Setareki Hughes (8), Misaele Draunibaka (11), Tevita Waranaivalu (12), Josaia Sela (14) and Kavaia Rawaqa (16).
Ba: (GK) Tevita Koroi (22), Avinesh Suwamy (2), Aakash Sharma (6), Darold Kakasi (7), Abbu Zahid (9), Ilimotama Jese (11), Kalaveti Sivoi (13), Etonia Dogalau (15), Narend Rao (17), Praneel Naidu (18) and Jonetani Newa (20).