SUVA has been boosted with the return of their two experienced utility players Samuela Vula and Esava Naqeleca for the 2016 Vodafone Fiji FACT at Subrail Park in Labasa.
This was confirmed by the Suva Football Association acting president Bijendra Pratap.
Naqeleca who played for Amicale FC in Vanuatu and Team Wellington in New Zealand had been out of action for more than a year after going through a knee surgery while Vula who is a solider by profession was away on a peacekeeping duties.
Pratap said it was good to have the duo in the training.
“We need some experienced players and we have got their services and it is up to the coach to decide on them and their fitness,” he said.
“The team needs fit players for Fiji FACT and if they are not that fit then they may be considered for the tournament later in the year.
“Esava had been injured and the coach and physio had been assessing him and they would give the approval if he was fit to play while Vula had experience and it was good for the team.”
Coach Gurjit Singh will be guiding Suva for the fifth time in the competition and in the past four years he had won only once in 2012 beating Ba 1-0 at Govind Park in Ba.
Singh said both the players had to prove their worth.
“It is good they have started training with the team. They need a lot of hard work to be in the team and get the fitness right,” he said.
“Nothing is impossible for them since they are some of the experienced players in the team and it is a good motivation for the other players.
“They were out of soccer for so long and they need to spend a lot of time in training to get in the top shape.”
Suva will play Lautoka in their opening match in Fiji FACT on June 17 at 1pm.
