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Fiji Time: 12:12 AM on Thursday 20 June

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T/Naitasiri braces for tough outing

Arin Kumar
Saturday, September 08, 2012

THE Tailevu Naitasiri soccer side will settle for nothing less than a win when they face Rakiraki in the second match of the Viti Levu Premier division play-offs tomorrow.

A 2-1 win in the first game at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori last Sunday means T/Naitasiri only needs a draw in the second match.

However, T/Naitasiri president Sundeep Roy said a win was the only target set for his team for the match.

He said a draw would not be sufficient from a team that has had an impressive run in the Fiji Sun/GP Batteries Southern Division Premier National Football League.

"We have won the Southern Division after a good season and to end it with a draw will look very bad," Roy said.

"That is why we need a win because victory will give us good momentum as we chase for a spot in the Promotion/Relegation series," he said. So the message to the team is clear, we must win the match on Sunday to rightfully lay claim to the Viti Levu title."

Roy said preparation for the second match went well as all players turned up for training despite the bad weather conditions over the past few days.

He said coach Tagi Vonolagi had been working with the team to mentally and physically prepare them for the tough match.

"Fitness in the side is good except for a few niggling injuries but the main issue he (Vonolagi) has been working on is the concentration of the team till the final whistle because it was in the dying minutes that that lone goal was scored against us in the first match.

"We have a young side with our average age being only 22 and facing an experienced side like Rakiraki, will need mental toughness."

He said they respected Rakiraki but expected them to come with all guns blazing in hopes of winning the second game to force a third match between the two.

"Rakiraki is a tough side and they would be out to beat us on their own ground so we have to tread carefully," Roy said.

The match kicks-off at 1pm at the Ra Sports Complex in Rakiraki tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Ba defeated Nadi 1-0 in the Fiji Sun/GP Batteries National League encounter last night.