Ba ropes in Aru
THE Ba Football Association has roped in Ni-Vanuatu national Claude Aru to strengthen the squad for the Punjas Battle of the Giants which starts at Churchill Park in Lautoka tomorrow.
The 25-year-old has come up through the age group ranks in Vanuatu having represented the national under-20 team, the national U23 team and then donning the senior national jersey once in 2017.
Aru started his career with the Malampa Revivors in 2016 before joining Shepherds United that currently plays in the Port Vila Football League’s First Division after being relegated from the Premier Division in the 2015-16 season.
Ba Football Association president Amzad Khan Sunny said they had tried to get another overseas player but the transfer papers were not ready on time.
Sunny said Aru would fill the void in the midfield and at striker as well.
“We lost Ilimotama Jese and Manasa Nawakula from the back line and Saula Waqa from attack,” he said.
“Claude would be roving from midfield into attack. We will field a young team.
“I know that the fans are a bit disappointed because of the team’s inconsistency in the Digicel Premier League recently.
“But they need to understand that we have lost a number of key players in the mid transfer window.
“These days it is very difficult to retain players if they are not contracted.
“People don’t understand the financial obligations in running a successful team.”
In March, the Fiji Football Association appointed a new normalisation committee to lead Ba Football
Association.
This was after the Ba FA board of control was unable to resolve their internal issues.
Sunny said when they first came this year, the players were not contracted.
“We tried to contract the players but they were hesitant,” he said.
“It is because we were new officials. So the mid window transfer became a big problem for us. “But now we can sign players with contracts which give the association a safeguard for the next transfer window.
“It is another rebuilding phase for the team. When we took over, we set out a plan to build but then in the mid transfer window the combinations were broken.
“Fans want positive results but it is not easy. We need the support of the fans and they need to have patience. At the end of the day we are trying our utmost best and who knows this team just might click at the event.”
Ba kicks off their campaign against Navua at 4pm.