Host and defending champions Container Haulage PTE Ltd, Extra Supermarket and All Freight Logistics sponsored Suva FC will be out to defend its title after a stunning performance at the OFC Champions League 2023.
Fresh from their campaign at the OFC Champions League with a good run against champions Auckland City, the Capital City side will be out to prove they were not a fluke in reaching the finals in Vanuatu.
Suva FC will aim to create a hat-trick after winning the tournament back-to-back in 2020 and 2022 as the tournament was not played in 2021 due to Covid-19 Pandemic.
Suva is currently among the well-performing teams, the task doesn’t get any easy for the side as it is pooled with Lautoka FC, Ba FC, and Navua FC in Group A.
Head coach Maxwell Thaggard will play his tricks with some of the best players in the country at their disposal with the exclusion of Ni-Vanuatu International Azariah Soromon and Alex Seniel. Suva will also miss the services of Solomon Islands international Marlon Taihoa in the midfield.
They have a solid defense led by OFC Champions Golden Glove Award winner goalkeeper Akuila Mateisuva, national team defender Remueru Tekiate, former Rewa and national team defender Inoke Turagalailai, utility Filipe Baravilala and Simione Nabenu.
They have players with the likes of Ravnesh Karan Singh, Malakai Rakula, Ramzan Khan, Merrill Nand, and Meli Codro to fill the vacuum left by their imports. Upfront will be unstoppable Samuela Drudru and Rusiate Matarerega.
Suva will face Lautoka FC on Friday, June 09 at 5.30 pm before playing Ba FC on Saturday at 7 pm. Their last Group A match will be up against Navua FC on Sunday at 1 pm.
The Capital City side has won the Fiji FACT title four times since its inception in 1991. They first won in 1995 and in 2012 after a sixteen-year drought and in 2020 after eight years beaten Nadi 1-0 in the final at Subrail Park in Labasa.
Last year the Whites defeated Labasa FC 2-0 to retain their title with goals from Malakai Rakula and Samuela Drudru at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.
Players to watch: Merrill Nand and Ramzan Khan.
Suva FC FACT File
Runners-Up: 1994, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2019,
Winners: 1995, 2012,2020, 2022
