THE Labasa football side has been preparing hard to win the 2019 Champion vs Champion title. Training has been good says manager Nilesh Lal.
“The preparations have been good under the coach Master Ronil Lal for the past two weeks and we will basically be relying on the squad members from last year,” said Nilesh.
He also dispelled rumours about the player movement in the pre-season transfer period.
“We are not bringing any new players for the CVC however negotiations are ongoing for some intakes this 2020 soccer season although nothing has been finalised as yet.”
When quizzed about Siotame Kubu and Antonio Tuivuna’s intended release to join Suva, Lautoka and Ba respectively Nilesh responded in the negative.
“Antonio and Siotame have opted to stay back in Labasa and they will be sure starters for Labasa tomorrow evening,” he said.
“Apart from Dennis Ifunaoa who has gone back to represent his club in the O-League the squad is basically the same as last year with no new inclusions at the moment.”
Labasa has been the only team to disrupt Ba’s galloping ride from 1993-2006 in the CVC series denying the Men in Black their 15th straight title.
Apart from a senior player who are nursing injuries and probably Napolioni Qasevakatini whose father had passed away and he is fulfilling his family obligations in Nadi, the rest of the squad are fit for the CVC series. Nilesh had a message for the Babasiga Lions fans.
“Just pleading with the fans in the Western Division to turn out in numbers and support the team like they had done in the BOG and IDC last year and definitely the fans will see a good performance from the Labasa team.”
Standard Hire is the major sponsor of the Labasa foccer team for the CVC series.
