Suva football midfield general Nickel Chand will be the youngest captain in the 2016 Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants semi-final clash at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori tomorrow.

Chand 21, who had just returned from the Rio Olympic Games, got his appointment from the Suva football management.

“It feels good and an honour for me to lead the side,” Chand told SUNsports yesterday.

“I was surprised when I was told that I will be the captain.

“I was thinking about it but I didn’t have to worry because there’s a lot of support from senior members like Samuela Drudru and Pita Rabo. I didn’t have to worry much we are all doing our part.”

The crafty midfielder had to remind his team mates to lift their performance after they drew 4-4 with Dreketi during their pool opener.

Then they bounced back to beat Rewa 1-0 before they held Nadi to a 0-0. Tomorrow they take on Labasa in the first semi-final.

“It was difficult for us after our first match against Dreketi, we came back to the changing room and we talked about some stuff we need to improve on and in our second game against Rewa we were confident and we went and did it.”

When asked how he was handling the situation, Chand says, he had to stay cool and be polite to the players.

“When I talk to them I just have to be cool.

“I tell them what needs to be done and I don’t need to be yelling at them, I have to be polite.

“Now that we will be playing Labasa in the semi-final, it’s a huge responsibility for me, Labasa will be tough, they have former Suva players like Leone Damudamu who have been scoring, we just have to go out there and do our best and let God do the rest.”

The Nabilo native from Korovou in Tailevu believes strong team bonding has kept them together.

“For a team to win it depends on how much you contributed on the field, so that you don’t regret at the end of the day.

“When you are on the field you have to play hard and give your best,” he added.