Suva football coach Zulfikar Khan is playing his cards close to his chest and has tipped his team as the underdog when it faces Ba in their Champions versus Champions fixture on Saturday.
Khan says that time hasn’t been on their side in as far as preparations to the meet was concerned but added that this would not reflect allot on how they will perform on this weekend.
“We go in as the underdog and what we can only say is that we will be there to give them a good fight,” he said
Khan said that in the past weeks it has been difficult to get their full squad together adding that he will be banking on the arrival of his Vanuatu imports today.
He said regulars in the form of Suva skipper Inosi Cava, speedy forward Maciu Dunadamu and veteran goalie William Lasaqa have been the frequent faces at training for the past weeks
Rewa utility back Waisake Sabutu has also been seen training with the side.
The CVC match kicks off at 3pm at the Post Fiji Stadium on Saturday.
Seasoned Ba defender Luke Vidovi returns from injury to boost his side’s chances of retaining the champion versus champion title for the 14th consecutive time since winning it in 1994.
Vidovi was co-captain of the Ba team that edged Labasa 3-0 in last year’s Fiji FACT final but an ankle injury later in the year forced him out of the IDC.
Ba president Rishi Kumar said Vidovi had recovered and would be in the starting line-up to face Suva at the Post Fiji Stadium.
“Luke (Vidovi) has recovered and he will be in the starting line-up,” He said.
National rep Vidovi was a notable exclusion from coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti’s 36-member squad selected during the IDC.
Rishi said Ba would travel to Suva on Saturday with an injury free and fit squad.
He said central defender Malakai Kenahewe had also recovered from an ankle injury.
“I don’t want to make predictions but since early January the side has been training for the O-League which was deferred so I expect the team to be at its best against Suva.”
“It will be an ideal build-up for us and since Suva is among the improved teams of last season I want to encourage fans to come out in numbers to witness a good game.”
With rain being experienced in Suva throughout the week Rishi said the possibility of playing on a wet turf was not a problem.
“Ba is Ba, we can play winning and constructive football in any kind of ground condition.”
Rishi said team skipper for the game would be announced later tonight.
Last year the Men-in-black outclassed 2005 IDC champions Lautoka in the Pillay’s Garment sponsored series.
Saturday’s first leg of the CVC series is scheduled for 3pm.