LAUTOKA Football Association has signed up towering defender Samuela Kautoga for the 2015/2016 season.
Kautoga has secured his international transfer certificate from Vanuatu club Amicale and will feature for the Blues against Ba in the Pacific Cup qualifier at Govind Park this Saturday.
The 28-year-old made his debut for Navua in 2006 and then played for the Fiji under-20 side in 2007.
Kautoga joined the Blues in the same year and was part of the Inter District Championship winning team.
He also represented Suva and Labasa before moving to Vanuatu.
The association’s executives officially handed Kautoga his number two jersey yesterday
Kautoga thanked the association’s president and Shop n Save Supermarket managing director Babu Rattan Deo for giving him the opportunity to play for the Sugar City side again.
“It has been nearly five years since I last played for a local side,” he said.
“I have changed my mind and have returned to play in Fiji and hope to do my best for Lautoka.”
The association’s vice-president Abdul Kadar said defence was one area that was identified as their downfall last season.
Kadar said other players were being lined up to join the side.
“Samuela will certainly add experience to the backline,” he said.
“We are negotiating for the releases of Kolinio Sivoki (Suva), Dave Radrigai (Suva) and Jone Vesikula (Ba).
“We are in talks with Osea Vakatalesau who is in Vanuatu. He is trying to finish off his contract with Amicale so nothing is confirmed with him yet,” Kadar said.
The Ba versus Lautoka match will kick off at 3pm.
The Pacific Cup will be held in November at the Bill McKinlay Park in Panmure, Auckland, New Zealand.
Nadi, Rewa and Suva have already qualified for the tournament which will also feature teams from Canada, the US, New Zealand and Australia. Ten teams will participate in the event.
