The replay was necessary after the match, played at Port Vila Stadium on Saturday 18 October was locked at 0-0 at the end of full time and extra time.
The resulting penalty shootout saw the two sides locked at 4-4, but with light fading fast at 6pm and no lights at the stadium, match officials put a stop to the game and scheduled a replay for this coming Saturday.
Moise Poida’s side remain hot favourites to add to their impressive trophy cabinet.
With 17 club championship titles to their name Tafea certainly have the pedigree. The club won consecutive championship titles from 1994 to 2009, before reclaiming the spot at the top on the domestic scene with back-to-back wins in 2013 and 2014.
Former Vanuatu international and OFC B Licence holder Moise Poida has a wealth of talent at his fingertips with former Vanuatu Football Academy players Lucien Hinge, Nicol Tari, Bong Kalo and Selonie Iaruel among them.
While Tafea may have history on their side, Ifira Black Bird won’t let that intimidate them according to coach Batram Suri.
“I have a lot of respect for Tafea FC,” Suri says.
“They have very good players and play very good, strong football and if any club in Port Vila wants to beat Tafea they must train extra hard.”
Suri was both impressed and proud of his side’s performance at the weekend and believes they are up to taking on the club champions once more.
“They fight to the last minute and are willing to do everything so I’m very happy with the passion of my players,” he says.
“This brings joy to my heart and I am so proud of them. But we need to learn to kill the game and you cannot do that with one, or three, or eight players – we have to do that with all 11 players.
“All of the 11 players have to think the same way otherwise you lose balls unecessarily and then we are going back instead of forward. That’s what we have to do, but that takes time.”
The replay of the Grand Final of the TVL Smile Cup 2014 takes place on Saturday 25 October with kick off scheduled for 2.30pm.
For more on Vanuatu football go to www.vanuafoot.vu

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