DOUBT surrounds the availability of Lautoka Blues' overseas imports for their next O League fixture against Vanuatu's Tafea FC at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Sunday week.
With the new transfer window now open, the overseas players are pursuing contracts with their respective clubs.
Three overseas players Salesh Kumar (New Zealand), Nahuel Arrarte (Australia) and James Chronopoulos (Australia) featured in the Shop n Save Lautoka Blues O League game against Hekari United in Papua New Guinea early this month.
They included The Blues defeated Hekari United 2-1.
Lautoka Football Association president Shalendra Prasad said the three overseas-based players were vying for new contracts.
"We are following up on all the overseas-based players that we registered in our squad for the O League," Prasad said.
"All of them are now negotiating with their respective clubs for contracts for the next season. We are also negotiating with club officials for the services of these players."
A mandatory 30-member squad list has to be submitted to the Oceania Football Confederation prior to the O League.
The Blues named 10 overseas-based players in their squad which includes Esava Naqeleca who is now plying his trade in Vanuatu.
The Blues lead their group after winning their first encounter 3-1 against Marist FC of the Solomon Islands.
"We are keeping our fingers crossed that the overseas players will make it for the Tafea game," Prasad said.
"It they are not available than we will have to rely on our local talent."
Four local players from the 30-member squad are curretly on suspension. They include Jone Vonu, Niumaia Tagi, Semesa Nakosia and Samuela Drudru.
Lautoka Blues will meet Tafea FC on November 29 at 3pm.
Lautoka Blues squad: Aliverti Baleiloa (Fiji), Samuela Kautoga (Fiji), Keni Doidoi (Fiji), Samuela Vula (Fiji), Semesa Nakosia (Fiji), Malakai Waqa (Fiji), Valerio Nawatu (Fiji), Ilaitia Tuilau (Fiji), Isikeli Jeke (Fiji), Kamal Hassan (Fiji), Sailesh Samy (Fiji), Jone Yelaqio (Fiji), Apisai Smith (Fiji), Samuela Drudru (Fiji), Niumaia Tagi (Fiji), Jone Vonu (Fiji), Arvindra Naidu (Fiji), Marika Robanakadavu (Fiji), Leone Vurukania (Fiji), Guerrero Marcello (Australia), Nahuel Arrarte (Australia), James Chronopoulos (Australia), Azzeddine Darif (Australia), Ali Cem Akbal (Australia), Nikola Zonjic (Australia), Goran Subara (Australia), Salesh Kumar (New Zealand), Wade Oostendorp (Australia), Esava Naqeleca (Vanuatu), Seimata Chillia (Vanuatu).
