Anil Amin has taken over the running of the club while regular president Rishikendra Kumar takes leave due to work commitments and is backing the team to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 loss to Lautoka in the National Football League last Sunday.
“The result against Lautoka was unexpected but there is no doubt that they were a very good side,” Amin says.
“We need to leave all that behind and focus on the O-League, which is a different ball game and one we need to be on our toes for.”
In contrast to most of their O-League rivals, Ba have an entirely homegrown squad and Amin believes there is enough talent in the line-up to deal with New Caledonian outfit Mont-Dore, who Ba welcome to Govind Park on Sunday in the last match of the opening round.
“We have the depth in the squad to pull this one off and we are preparing positively. The onus is now on the players to deliver.”
Coach Yogendra Dutt will be aware of the need to make Govind Park a fortress as Ba will face several tough road trips throughout the campaign. New Zealand side Waitakere United and Tahiti’s Tefana are the other teams in Group A and neither of their home venues are easy places to pick up three points.
Waitakere did not lose a match at home last season while Tefana suffered only one defeat. Mont-Dore did not take part in the 2011 O-League but will also be difficult to beat at the 12,000 capacity Stade Numa Daly, an intimidating place to play for any visiting team.
Establishing some early home form is therefore vital for a Ba side looking to improve on its most recent O-League outings.
The Men in Black made it all the way to the final of the 2007 competition but lost to Waitakere on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate tie and it was all downhill from there. They finished bottom of Group B in the 2008 and 2009 seasons before dropping out of the Pacific’s premier club competition altogether after failing to conquer their own backyard.
Their hopes of a successful return suffered a blow before a ball was even kicked, however, with the news that three key players – goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau, Esava Naqaleca and Jone Vono – will miss the first half of the season as they are still registered with other clubs.
The trio will not be able to finalise their transfers to Ba until the transfer window opens in January and there will then be only three group matches remaining. If his charges are still in the running for a final berth by that stage, Dutt will be hoping they don’t suffer the same fate as Fiji’s previous O-League representatives.
Lautoka began the 2011 season brightly and looked on course to make the final but endured a horrendous end to the campaign, losing 6-1 to Koloale and 5-1 to Amicale, to eventually finish third in Group A.
2012 O-League Match Day 1
Ba vs. Mont-Dore
Sunday 30 October
Govind Park
Ba, Fiji
Local kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Chris KERR [NZL]
Assistant referee 1: Ravinesh KUMAR [FIJ]
Assistant referee 2: Rakesh CHANDRA [FIJ]
Fourth official: Mudaliar DINAMANI [FIJ]
Ba: 1. Jone RALULU [GK], 2. Avinesh SUWAMY, 3. Shalen LAL, 4. Manueli KALOU, 6. Jone VESIKULA, 7. Tuimasi MANUCA, 8. Keni DOIDOI, 11. Alvin SINGH, 12. Remueru TEKIATE, 13. Kini VILIAME, 14. Isimeli NARESIA, 15. Rinal PRASAD, 16. Malakai TIWA, 19. Peter HUGHES, 21. Josefata NEIBULI, 22. Epeli CODRO, 25. Aisea CODRO, 26. Marika MADIGI
Coach: Yogendra DUTT
Mont-Dore: 1. Jean-Jacques WACHOU [GK], 2. Dominique SAWA, 3. Jacques WAMYTAN, 4. Jean-Patrick WAKANUMUNE, 5. Georges WADENGES, 6. Olivier DOKUNENGO, 7. Patrick DIAIKE, 8. Kalaje GNIPATE, 10. Romain PAINBENI, 11. Rony ATTI, 12. Pierre NYIKEINE, 13. Loic WAKANUMUNE, 17. Jose HMAE, 18. Jean-Marc HMALOKO, 19. Fabrice WACAPO, 24. Yoann GERBET
Coach: Thierry SARDO
For more on Fiji football go to www.fijifootball.com.fj

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