Traditional footballing giants will be out for revenge at this year’s Punja’s Battle of the Giants Tournament in Lautoka.
A string of defeats in the Vodafone Premier League lately has disappointed Ba’s fans and surprised many fans around the country.
Coach Roneel Kumar now has to come up with a strategy for success at the eagerly anticipated Punjas BOG, the first Fiji Football Association tournament following the lifting COVID-19 related restrictions around the country.
Kumar will have do so without some key players the side lost in the mid-season transfer window. He will have to use his young guns to fire on the Men in Black who answered the call of duty against Labasa in the VPL last week. In the first two rounds of the VPL, Ba lost 0-1 to Nasinu and was thrashed 1-5 by a powerful Nadi side.
History is on Ba’s side for the Punjas BOG. The Men-in-Black have won the prestigious title for 17 times; the latest in 2018 defeating Suva 2-0 at the same venue.
Churchill Park has proven to be a happy hunting ground for them, as the venue for eight of their 17 wins.
Ardent fans would remember Ba winning the first ever BOG trophy in in 1979, beating Rewa 4-2 on penalty kicks at Churchill Park. In 1981they defeated Lautoka 2-0 in the final. Lautoka was again the losing finalist in the 1992 final against Ba. Ba achieved back-to-back BOG titles in in 1999 and 2000, defeating Tavua and Labasa respectively. In the 2009 again they played final with Lautoka and won 1-0 and in their last win in 2018 BOG they defeated Labasa 2-1.
Football fans can rest assured that the ‘conveyor belt’ of talent from Ba will be on show at the Punjas BOG, with an array of fresh, talented youngsters looking to restore lost pride. Players like Peceli Sukabula, Lorima Batirerenga Junior, Sumeet Goundar, Mitieli Naiviro and Malakai Rere will be supported by experienced stars like Ilmotama Jese, Abbu Zahid, Samuela Drudru,Saula Waqa, Narendra Rao Junior, Saula Waqa and Senaila Waqanicakau.
Another addition to Ba’s potency in attack is in the form of Solomon Islander Darold Kakasi, is expected to provide even more power up front..
4R Electric Ba will start its campaign against Giant Killers Nasinu on the opening day of the Punjas BOG 2020 (Friday August 7) at 4pm. They face Labasa on Saturday at 3pm, with will play their final Group A match against Suva on Sunday at 2pm. So will the magic flow from this mix of youth and talent for the Men in Black? We will find out next week.
