MARIKA Rodu will be at the helm of the Rewa soccer side as the Delta Tigers look to make a comeback in the domestic soccer competition with the Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants (BOG) this month.
Rodu has opted to concentrate on coaching unlike his dual coach/player responsibility in previous tournaments.
Rewa Football Association secretary Sanjay Chand said the side was in camp and preparing hard for their opening match against Labasa in the first round of the tournament at Subrail Park this Sunday.
The defending champions have lost the services of Kavaia Rawaqa, Ilisoni Logaivau and Posiano Kalisito to the Babasiga Lions camp but have retained Misaele Draunibaka, Lorima Dau, Peniame Drova and Meneusi Senibuli.
Rewa has also acquired the services of Solomon Islanders Abraham Iniga and James Naka along with Vanuatu international Robert Tasso.
The Solomons duo was supposed to arrive into the country last night.
Chand also said they had high chances of getting the services of Lautoka's Leone Vurukania and Maika Waqa for the opening round of the BOG.
He said they were finalising their release and remained optimistic of a positive outcome by the end of this week.
"Leone's wife has been transferred (work) here and he showed interest in joining us. Both of them haven't withdrawn their release and we are positive of finalising their move to Rewa."
Chand said Labasa looked the best team on paper but remained upbeat of their chances at the Lions den.
"We respect Labasa and we know they are always hard to beat in front of their home crowd but its 11 men against 11, so anything can happen," he said.
"We request our supporters not to lose hope on us after our recent performance as we try to build a formidable side for the BOG."
Meanwhile, Rewa will miss services of Semi Dileqa and goalkeeper Epeli Loaniceva, both of them are serving match suspension.
Dileqa will miss the Labasa game while Loaniceva is suspended for two matches following a red card in Rewa's last match against Tavua.
Rewa will be relying on the services of reserve goalkeeper Alfraz Zoheb and former Suva stopper, Imtiaz Khan who applied for his release from the capital city side.