Navua, making their debut in the 2024 Flick Hygiene Pacific Community Cup, is fielding an entirely local squad as they kick off the tournament today at Churchill Park in Lautoka. Coach Saiyad Ali expressed that this is an exciting opportunity for young players, allowing them to gain valuable international experience by competing against teams featuring professional and semi-professional athletes.
While the team’s objective includes causing upsets during the tournament, Ali emphasized that his primary focus is on providing gameplay opportunities for younger team members. Several young players, who missed the recent Inter District Championship due to their examinations, have returned and will participate in the upcoming group matches.
Navua’s lineup boasts national representatives such as Filipe Baravilala, Thomas Dunn, and Rahul Krishna, alongside other talented players including Kolinio Sivoki, Zainal Ali, Matthew Charitar, Simione Damuni, and goalkeeper Jovilisi Borisi, who will lead the team in its campaign. Notably, the team will be without the Solomon Islands trio of Jackson Wale, Ali Mekawir, and Jared Rongosulia, who have returned home for a holiday.
The team will kick off their campaign against the AuFFI All Stars at 6:15 PM today.
This marks a hopeful start for Navua, as investing in the development of young talent may pave the way for a strong future in the sport. Fans can look forward to seeing how these young players rise to the challenge and potentially make their mark in this significant tournament.
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