Ba Determined to Win Skipper Opening Match

Vinod Patel Ba will be determined to win their Skipper Cup opening match.

Suva skipper Enele Malele is aware of this as the capital side prepares to host the 2023 Vodafone Vanua Cup runner-up at the HFC Bank Stadium, Suva on Saturday at 3pm.

Malele confided that Suva will be without majority of their senior players including last season’s captain James Brown.

“When a team reaches the Skipper Cup, it is a good team and Ba has advanced onto this level from the Vanua competition,” Malele said.

“Suva is expecting a good game."

“Ba would not want to lose in their first match; however we will not also want to lose on our home turf."

“We’ve had five weeks of off-season training; we are well prepared for them.”

Malele added that most of their players this season are from their development and Under-20 squads.

Senior players still in the side include Mosese Naiova, Sikeli Lumelume, Pauliasi Tora, John Stewart, Keponi Paul and Suva’s rookie of the year Iosefo Namoce.

“The Police players have not trained with the side, we hope they will join us soon,” Malele said.

“It does not affect the team because we have our development programmes and I thank our High-Performance Unit team for grooming these young players.

“They have gelled in well with us.”

Solomone Nute is coaching Suva again for this year’s Skipper Cup season.

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