Ready to redeem

Local Sports

Jubilant Nadi players and team officals after winning 2011 League championship. Photo credit S1.

Back to back League champions, Nadi will try to extract a measure of revenge in the 2012 Knockout Tournament.

The defending League champions are adamant to redeem themselves following their 3-2 shootout loss to Samabula F.C, in the 2011 Knockout finals.

The two fierce competitors have each others numbers and for the last 3 seasons they have been the top clubs in the Fijian Soccer League competitions.

Nadi Football Association president cum player Afroz Khan is optimistic of a good tournament.

“I guess it will come down to who wants it bad. I’m confident Nadi will settle for no less than a win,” Khan said.

“We were all over them (Samabula) in the finals last year, but we slept to the switch that allowed us to concede the tying goal.

Khan said his gridirons are ready to redeem the 2011 loss.

“It was a teething feeling after the shootout loss. It did hurt a bit,” said Khan.

Nadi had set a 30 game unblemished record during the 2010-2011 seasons.

However, Nadi is half its potential coming in to Knockout Tournament after two losses in the League competition.

“The Knockout loss blemished our record”.

Nadi is 2-2-0 in the League standings.

“We’ll go full out and give it all,” said Khan.

Rewa and Navua will come into the tournament as hot favourites after enjoying early success in the league games.

The two sides have yet to lose a game and hold number one and two places on the leaders table.