With the Oceania Football Confederation’s Champions League just around the corner, the Lautoka football team took time out to visit the Sunshine Special School yesterday.

Lautoka FC manager Paul Abraham said this was part of the team’s social obligation and also a morale booster for both the players and students.

“The Lautoka Football Association decided that we should have a social obligation, so as a part of this we wanted the boys to go and mingle around with the students in the school,” he said.

“This school has students who have their own special qualities so having the players come here just to talk to them will boost their morale and give them a sense of appreciation.

“This is good for our boys too as they prepare to travel abroad for the Champions League and as they go back to camp they will feel at ease knowing that they have inspired the children.

“We can see from the children that they appreciate what we have done for them and even the players have been looking forward to seeing the children as well.”

Abraham added that the team are preparing well for both the Champions League and their match against Suva on Sunday.

“With Suva coming up this week, the boys are ready but it all depends on the coach and the team,” he added.

“We will go there and play our normal game that we have been playing and we will always remember the children in our prayers.

“In the OFC, we have a tough game coming up, but we believe in the team, the coaches and management have really worked hard.”

Lautoka play Suva at 3pm at Churchill Park on Sunday.

Lautoka FC’s first game will be against Mandang on February 25. They will then take on AS Venus on February 28 and Auckland City on March 3.

Edited by Leone  Cabenatabua

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