Courtesy: The Fiji Times


Duo ruled out of Navua

by Emoni Narawa

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

SOUTHERN Forest Navua suffered a major setback in its Vodafone Fiji FACT tournament campaign as its Solomon Islands imports Elliot Ragomo and Robert Laua will not feature for them.

The duo attracted the attention of the Navua officials after impressing at the Oceanic Futsal Championship in Suva last month. Navua will rely on its 20 players to do the job during the five-day tournament.

Ragomo and Laua could have added fire and power to Navua's hunt for another FACT title.

However this was all dashed as the duo confirmed they would focus on Solomon Futsal for the upcoming World Cup.

Navua team coach Krishneel Sharma said they needed to rely on their local talents after the eleventh hour withdrawal of the duo.

"It has been confirmed that they will not feature for us. It is not a setback for us because we have been training without them. Now we have to work on our local boys to form a good combination," he said.

The Southern giant will rely on Jesoni Takala, Sedrick Dutt, and Praneel Kumar who have been the regular strike force this season.

Defenders Lorima Dau, Pene Erenio and goalkeeper Benamino Mateinaqara forms a deadly combination with Seveci Rokotakala and Simione Maikali in the midfield.

Sharma said losing the Solomon duo would not drift their focus from winning the tournament this weekend.

"This is something we have to take. We would love to have the two players around but definitely that will not stop us from winning the tournament. We will give our best shot with our local boys," he said.

Navua takes on Labasa in its first game on Friday.


Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com