Previously with Navua, Mateinaqara says Nadi has struggled to win any domestic competitions which was a factor in his decision to return.
“I just wanted to give something back to the district as it’s my home,” the lofty glove-man says.
Speaking of height, that’s the reason he found himself in his current role and also what’s helped him into the national team line-up.
“When I was 15 a guy came up to me and said ‘you’re tall’, and tried me out as a goalkeeper. I took an interest in it and that is what has brought me here,” Mateinaqara says.
He made his debut for Fiji against Kiribati at the South Pacific Games in Samoa in 2007 and hopes to continue representing his country for a while longer.
And with a fair amount of experience under his belt he’s happy to share that with the more youthful members of the Nadi squad.
“We have a new bunch of kids here and this is a new experience for them. We’ve been doing the hard yards during training and we’re taking each game as it comes,” he says of the competition.
And as captain, he’s expected to lead by example.
“What I’ve told them is to just go out there and enjoy because these types of tournaments don’t come to you easily so you need to come first in your country to even get into the Champions League.
“Then it’s like another level up of international games and all you can do is get out there and do your best.”
Just competing in the Champions League is a fantastic achievement according to the keeper, and he plans to relish every moment.
“We played against Auckland City on Tuesday but you just never know when you’re going to play them again so you just have to savour it.”
Nadi continue their OFC Champions League campaign this afternoon against Vanuatu side Amicale this afternoon at Churchill Park in Lautoka with kick-off scheduled for 4pm (local).

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