The Men in Black came agonisingly close to doing so in the inaugural O-League season in 2007, notching a 2-1 win over Waitakere United in the first leg of the final before falling 1-0 to the New Zealand side in the second leg.
The results meant the aggregate score was locked at 2-2 but Waitakere progressed through to the FIFA Club World Cup due to the away goals rule.
Kumar says the pain of that disappointment is still felt amongst the Ba players and supporters but feels the current crop can use that experience to their benefit.
“We have been there before and know what to expect from the other clubs,” he says. “This time we will be fully prepared.”
Any hopes Ba had of building on that runners-up effort to become a real force in the O-League was dashed over the next pair of campaigns, in 2008 and 2009, which both resulted in bottom-placed Group B finishes.
They then failed to qualify for either of the following seasons and president Rishikendra Kumar says the players are pleased to be back.
“Our boys have been looking forward to getting another chance since then and this is the moment they have all been waiting for,” he says.
Ba begin their first O-League campaign for two years at home against Mont-Dore on October 30 before facing an away run made up of trips to Waitakere and Tefana, as well as the return match against Mont-Dore.
The Men in Black then round off their pool stage commitments with a pair of fixtures at their Govind Park base against Waitakere and Tefana, their final Group A match taking place on March 31.
Coach Yogendra Dutt has named an entirely homegrown squad for Ba’s O-League comeback and there appears to be enough ability in the ranks to make a significant impact.
Fijian internationals Avinesh Suwamy, Jone Vesikula, Alvin Singh, Malakai Tiwa, Malakai Kainihewe, Esava Naqaleca and Simione Tamanisau have all been named in the squad of 30 but Dutt will not have a full compliment to pick from in the opening rounds.
Tamanisau (Rewa), Naqeleca (Suva) and Jone Vono (Lautoka) are still registered with their soon-to-be former clubs and will miss the first half of the season.
“We will recruit players from other districts and they will join us in the transfer window but we will have to play the first three games without them,” Kumar says.
“We will have a much different team after the window in January and I’m sure that this time we will do the nation proud.”
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