NAVUA set a good platform for the Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants (BOG) after holding a tough Nadi side 0-0 at Thomson Park yesterday.
The Jetsetters, leaders of the Fiji Sun/GP Batteries National Football League, were left ruing the chances they had to take the maximum points from the encounter. Navua goalkeeper Sheik Moshin played superbly to keep the Nadi strikers at bay while veteran Jesoni Takala combined well with young Navua strikers and proved a handful for Nadi stopper Vereti Dickson.
Dickson, who hails from Dogotuki in Labasa, was equally good under the posts. Nadi was reduced to 10 players in the last quarter of the match after striker Uraia Loki was sent off by referee Rakesh Varman following a second yellow card for dangerous play.
Loki will miss the game against Suva in the opening round of the BOG at Subrail Park in Labasa.
Navua president Gopal Naidu said the deadlock against the league leader's was the boost the team needed ahead of the BOG. However, Naidu said they still needed to work on their strike force to threaten top teams in the upcoming tournament.
"We are bringing three Solomon Islanders who are schooling at USP to bolster our strike force," he said.
"Our plan is to bring all our players back and we are holding talks with them at the moment but unfortunately they are bit hesitant to come forward to discuss the deals."
The NFL will go on break to allow teams to prepare for the BOG.
Ba, Labasa, Suva, Rewa, Navua, Nadroga, Nadi and Lautoka will play in the historic 90 minute tournament.