THE Lautoka soccer side recorded a low turnout during the first training run for the opening round of the Fiji Sun/GP Batteries National Football League this weekend.
The Blues are billed to face 2012 NFL champions Ba at Churchill Park on Sunday.
Only five players turned up for training yesterday morning with many senior players missing out.
Lautoka’s Ni-Vanuatuan recruit Vatu Joel Duvu Eustace also failed to attend the training run.
Lautoka Football Association president Shalendra Prasad said there seemed to be some miss communication.
He said most players were not aware that training was supposed to start yesterday.
“We are requesting players from last year’s squad to attend training daily at Churchill Park ground number two,” Prasad said.
“New players who want to try out for the Lautoka team for the 2013 season are also requested to attend.
“We have a crucial game against Ba who are the defending champions. The aim is to get the season off to a positive start.”
Lautoka failed to defeat Ba in the 2012 NFL competition. Last year the Blues lost the opening fixture 1-2 at Churchill Park while the return match at Govind Park ended in a 1-all draw.
Meanwhile, a decision on the coach for the new season was supposed to have been made during the LFA council meeting last night.
The match between Ba and Lautoka will kick-off at 3pm.