Jack’s Nadi team manager Kamlesh Sami is keeping his fingers crossed with high hopes of their suspended key defender featuring against Ba in the Vodafone Premier League match at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on Sunday.

Sami said Ilimotama Jese’s inclusion would bolster the Green Machine against the lethal attacking Ba offence.

“Jese is likely to return to the Nadi side but we are awaiting the green light from Fiji FA,” he said.

Jese was suspended by the Fiji FA from all levels of the football when he was alleged to have taken advantage of the current player transfer window inappropriately.

It is understood that the Ba native went to Ba, signed a contract with them but later returned to Nadi.

“In the last match against Lautoka we had a poor defence and we are working on that defence,” said Sami.

Strike partners Rusiate Matererega and Napolioni Qasevakatini are expected to play crucial roles on attack.

Nadi is on sixth spot, seven points on the VPL points table while Ba hold the fifth spot also with seven points, after four matches.

The Nadi Football Association has reverted to grooming local players emphasizing the importance of the grassroots level.

President Javed Ahmed said the focus on the grassroots in Nadi would help the association identify local talent.

“At a point help them to produce better players, game changers, intelligent players who are comfortable to be in possession of the ball when under pressure,” Ahmed said.

“Our entire focus is on the grassroots and that is how we can produce great players.”

He said they were planning to take a step forward and begin from the junior league.

“This year we would like start a junior league which will be played in three divisions, the under 8, 11 and under 14 and we will basically have different club teams formed and this will be held on Saturdays from 9am-12pm,” he said.