First round impresses national coach
THE Vodafone national football team’s head coach was impressed with the first round of pool matches during the 2020 Vodafone Fiji Football Association Cup Tournament (FACT) held last weekend in Lautoka and Suva.
Flemming Serritslev said it was a great start to the last local football tournament, judging from the results.
“There were a couple of very good matches played last week,” he said.
“The last match on Sunday between Rewa and Labasa was an excellent football match. Labasa had the opportunity to win the match but when Rewa duo, Setareki Hughes and Tevita Waranivalu came on to the pitch in the second spell totally changed the flow of the game.
“It was a very good game. Suva and Navua was also a good game and it was unfortunate that Navua lost because they created a lot of problems for the Capital City side.
“Suva had two good finishers and they were able to capitalise on their chances.”
The Dane was also amazed with the feature match between Nadi and Lautoka played at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday.
“For me, the first match between Ba and Nasinu was maybe not of a high level but the second match was a very good game.
“It was a tough and equally contested game and it was expected especially between two neighbours, who are arch rivals.
“I have seen good football in the first round of matches and I was happy with what I saw at the ANZ Stadium and between the two Western neighbours.” The 72-yearold commended the national football players, who appeared for their respective districts.
“In general, most of the national squad members did well.”
The tournament proper would commence today at Labasa’s Subrail Park and conclude on Sunday.
Nadi is the defending champion after securing a hard fought come from behind 2-1 win in a pulsating encounter against a starstudded Suva football team at Churchill Park, in Lautoka last year.