BA – Fiji international midfielder Pita Baleitoga has brought a sigh of relief in the national team camp on the eve of the match against New Caledonia.
Baleitoga, who was under an injury cloud, has recovered from a knee injury and will be a key player in the absence of five regulars who have been ruled out of the match.
Coach Carlos Buzzetti said Baleitoga will strengthen the midfield when they take on New Caledonia in the all important World Cup qualifying match.
Buzzetti said missing five key players has been a blow for the side however they will hope to field their best with the available players.
“The more important thing is that Pita (Baleitoga) has recovered and looks free of injury,” Buzzetti said.
“He came to camp on Monday with a blow to his knee and now after treatment he was back training with the team and is in better condition and I am very stratified with that.”
New Zealand-based Waitakere United midfielder Ronil Kumar has also added a new lease of life to the depleted side after the withdrawal of another Kiwi-based midfielder Salesh Kumar
alongside veteran striker Esala Masi while Josaia Bukalidi and Malakai Tiwa are out injured.
Samuela Vula has personal commitments and Simione Tamanisau could not obtain leave from work.
Ronil Kumar arrived on Wednesday night and had his first training run with the side yesterday morning.
All this week the national side has faced setbacks and injury scares however more good news was in store for the side when defender Jone Vesikula was cleared to play.
“We will change a few positions and the players are here to represent their country,” Buzzetti said. Buzzetti will trim the current squad of 22 players to 18 on Saturday and will
name the starting lineup to take on New Caledonia before the match.
Fiji needs a win against New Caledonia to get its campaign back on track after losing to New Zealand in the opening match of the World Cup qualifiers last month.
New Caledonia will be boosted by their performances at the XIII South Pacific Games – Samoa 2007 that saw coach Didier Chambaron’s side pip Fiji for the gold medal in a tense final
match in Apia nearly six weeks ago.
Former AS Pirae midfielder Jose Hmae was the goalscorer that day and will have a key role to play for the visitors with the mecurial abilities of another ace player Pierre Wajoka
likely to be absent.
Defensively New Caledonia will present Fiji with a serious challenge particularly if as expected Chambaron employs a 4-5-1 formation that worked so well for ‘les cagous’ at J.S.
Blatter Playing Field in Apia.
With the bulk of Chambaron’s team comprised from unbeaten Super Ligue leaders AS Magenta, New Caledonia will start the match as slight favourites given the long list of
injury-enforced absentees from the Juan Carlos Buzzetti’s squad.
The match kicks off at Govind Park at 1500hrs Fijian Time.
Story courtesy The Fiji Sun/Image courtesy Geoff Dickinson Photography/FCF Media