Waqa Returns For Ba In Noumea

Striker Saula Waqa has rejoined the Vodafone Ba football team for their OFC

Champions League quarter-final against New Caledonia Hienghene FC in Noumea tomorrow, despite not featuring in the pool stages.

However, defender Avinesh Suwa- my and goalkeeper Josaia Ratu did not travel with the team yesterday due to personal commitments, says head coach Ronil Kumar.

Kumar said they were treating the match as a final.

“If a team has reached the quarter-final, it is self-explanatory that they are good team. We do not believe that playing away from home is in our disadvantage,” Kumar said.

"The team has prepared well despite not having (Avinesh) Suwamy and (Josaia) Ratu in the team."

Kumar is familiar with OFC Champions League success, having been part of the Ba team that on away goals to the New Zealand's Waitakere United in 2007.

“Ba has played in many OFC Champions League competitions and we have records at stake,” the coach said.

“We request the fans to back the team and we are optimistic for a good outing.”

The side is co-captained by plucky striker Abbu Zahid and midfielder.

A win in New Caledonia will secure Ba a home semi-final.

“We have played Hienghene before and we know our opponent well,” Zahid said.

“They won’t be easy to beat but we will play according to our strengths.

“The team’s morale is high since we qualified from our group and the boys have trained well together.

“We have had close to four weeks to prepare for this quarter final match. We had some difficulties while training as a team as some of my boys were playing in the national team.”

Zahid said the team had spent extra time working on their finishing.

Ba lost their first pool game to Wellington FC (2-0), before a draw against Vanuatu Erakor Golden Star (1-1) and win against Samoa’s Kiwi FC (5-1) secured qualification.

“Speaking from our pool games, we have ironed out a lot of our weak areas,” Zahid said.

“We are a side made up of players all from Ba, no one from other districts so all home players.”

Edited by Sheldon Chanel

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