Nasinu Masters keen to impress

By Avikash Chand

Newly formed Nasinu Masters Football Club will go in as underdogs during the Jo Tubuna Cup Veterans Tournament to be held at Mangere Centre Park in Auckland, New Zealand on 22-25 November.

Established six months ago, the club consists of former players of Nasinu Rewa and Suva and initiated by former Suva and Fiji rep Intiaz Khan, Lawrence Robert, former Nasinu and Under 20 national rep and Kasib Nasibdar.

Speaking to FijiLive team player and official Lawrence Robert said they decided on forming the team to unite ex-soccer reps, to keep fit, networking with players based in overseas and soccer developments.

The team is led by well-known former Nasinu FA president Sadasivan Naicker and coached by Manoj Kumar, former Nasinu, Rewa and Suva coach.

“Some of our former players residing in New Zealand will also join the team upon our arrival,” said Robert.

Former Nasinu reps Henry Nair, Dheeraj Nair and Nitesh Prasad who played for Nasinu and Niraj Mudaliar and Krishna Jenu, a former Rewa and Nasinu rep, will join us to strengthen our squad.”

The team also includes former Suva and Rewa goalkeeper Joela Baleidrodroka to keep strikers at bay as well as current Lami and former Rewa rep Ashwin Chand who is currently playing a tournament in Australia.

“Nasinu Masters club also plans to provide training programme to schools within the Nasinu-Suva corridor from next year to improve the standard of soccer in the district,” said Robert.

”This is a small way of contributing towards lifting the soccer standard in Fiji.”

The club is run by subscription from team members. The Lincoln Refrigeration sponsored team is the only team from Fiji that is participating in the 4-day tourney.

The team departs tomorrow and returns on 28 November.

The team will face Dreketi Masters in their first pool play on Thursday evening and is also grouped with Ba, Rewa Nadi and Savusavu.

Nasinu Masters Squad  
Intiaz Khan, Lawrence Robert, Kasif Nasibdar, Yogesh Nair, Binesh Prasad, Ashwin Chand, Itesh Singh, JoelaBaledrokadroka,Jagindar Singh, Avinesh Chand, Andrick Lal, Reginald Lal, Dharmen Prasad, Umesh Prasad. Overseas based players/officials include Dheeraj Singh, NirajMudaliar, Nitesh Prasad, Henry Nair.

The team thanks its sponsors for their kind contribution. Sponsors are Lincoln Refrigeration Ltd and co-sponsors are Queensland A-Z, Pasifika Tents, Vishnu Holdings Ltd, KBL, LodoniTrp, Keith Customs, Maxsafe Security, Dee Cees Bus Co, Autocare, Classic Paints, Jaiswal Buildings, MY Group, Raiwaqa Buses, Seafresh Fiji, Dalip Chand & Sons Ltd, City Security, Kris Signs, Samabula Auto, DHL, Pacific Energy, Power Electric, MFL, Vodafone, Grants Betting, Quality Aluminium.

FijiLive