Rounds,bad boys boost Blues NFL defence September 02, 2010
By Reginald Chandar
The temporary uplift of suspension of key players and the appointment of Nicholas Rounds as interim coach have boosted Lautoka’s chances of retaining the National League title.
The Shop and Save/Weet-Bix Blues who have been plagued with problems this season have a six point lead on the points table and are closely challenged by former champions Ba.
In its 10th Council Meeting on Monday evening, the Lautoka Football Association appointed Rounds as its interim coach till the Inter District Championship in Ba and also gave a second chance to the suspended players.
While seven of the nine players namely Osea Vakatalesau, Valerio Nawatu, Ilaitia Tuilau, Apisai Smith, Leone Vurukania, Niumaia Tagi and Alifereti Baleiloa have been given the chance to prove their worth, two players; Semesa Nakosia and Samuela Kautoga have been freed after the duo apologized for their actions.
LFA president Shalendra Prasad said the seven players will have to show full commitment in training and in the match this Sunday against Suva while waiting for a final verdict from the LFA disciplinary committee next Monday.
“The council has given the players the second chance to prove their worth and the final decision about them will come from the disciplinary committee which will meet on Monday evening,” said Prasad.
“Semesa Nakosia and Samuela Kautoga have been cleared and the two players will not appear before the committee on September 6.”
“As for the coaching appointment, the name of Nicholas Rounds was moved from the floor during the council meeting and he has been appointed as the interim coach till the IDC.”
“Rounds has been around and helped us for some time now and his appointment should ease our coaching problems as he is well versed with Lautoka Football.”
Lautoka plays Suva this Sunday at Churchill Park. The match kicks off at 3pm.
Is this all about good sportsmanship, development of soccer in Fiji? The temporary lifting of suspension shows that this Lautoka is making the soccer profession a laugh. The whole of the Lautoka management should be sacked. And FFA should let Ba or Navua to contest the OFC league instead. The Lautoka FC has brought disrupte to soccer in Fiji and FFA should not allow Lautoka to contest the OFC. True champions like Ba are second to none in Fiji. If LFA have any respect to Fiji soccer, it should suspend all the 9 players for lengthy spell.
News on
RSS 
