LAUTOKA Football Association has roped in robust Vanuatu international Jason Thomas for the 2020 Oceania Football Confederation Champions League.
Thomas is the second player from Vanuatu to be signed by the Blues following the inclusion of Alex Saniel.
The 23-year-old centre back featured in Lautoka’s Pacific Cup victory in Auckland, New Zealand last October.
He has earned 16 caps for Vanuatu since making his debut in 2015.
Thomas will feature in the OFC Champions League and not the Vodafone Premier League.
The OFC Champions League kicks off in Vanuatu on February 15 with the Group B matches which involves Lautoka, Lae City (Papua New Guinea), Henderson Eels (Solomon Islands) and Malampa Revivors (Vanuatu).
Lautoka FA president Shalendra Prasad said Thomas with his tall stature and neat ball control would strengthen the midfield together with Zibraaz Sahib.
Prasad said they were waiting for two more guest players from New Zealand to complete their roster for the OFC Champions League.
“Our request to play one more game in the VPL before we head off to Vanuatu has been granted by the Fiji Football Association,” he said.
“We will host Nadi at Churchill Park on Sunday.
“The match will be vital as coach Anand Sami will be testing the combinations.
“It is about getting the game pattern right. Nadi also won the first round game against Navua so they will be tough to beat.”
Prasad confirmed that left midfielder Muni Shivam Naidu has been cleared to return to Laautoka. Naidu had applied to for a transfer to Ba for the 2020 season but withdrew.
Prasad said Naidu would be a sure starter against Nadi.
“We will miss our veteran player Jone Vonu Jr who has gone to New Zealand to participate in a tournament there,” he said.
The Lautoka versus Nadi match is scheduled to kick off at 3pm.
