Suva football president Intiaz Khan has laid down his facts and is standing by them after critics called for a change in management as the team faced another heavy defeat in the Digicel Fiji Premier League.
After the 2-5 loss to Navua two weeks ago, Suva fell to Nadroga at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka with the same scoreline, and fans were quick to call for change on social media.
This included coach Inosi Cava who wrote, “As long as Imtiaz Khan is president of Suva, Suva will never win.”
He went on to write, “Apologies for the performance of our team today (Sunday) but if you need answers on why the team is losing, please ask Intiaz who is the president/coach. He was the one who was naming the 18 without consulting Pita (Rabo) or I.”
In response to this, Khan held a press conference where he announced that both Cava and trainer Pita Rabo will be sent a letter soon advising of their dismissal from the association.
“From the first day I have made it clear that I do not want to take that pressure of coaching as well,” he said.
“In Inosi’s case, how can you take a team if you’re not there during training. I go to the ground every day or when I’m available after our business closes at five just to check what’s happening. It’s disappointing when I see there is no coach and Suva football is paying them to be present in training.”
He admitted that for this reason he had to step in and name the 18 for the matches against Navua and Nadroga.
“If I must give an average number, Inosi Cava would be present during training for roughly two to three days and without any notice to the coaching group. Against Navua, he wasn’t present on any day, so Pita and I did the training and named the team.
“On Saturday we left for Nadroga for a team bonding, exceptional of the police officers including Remueru Tekiate, Waisea Navunigasau and Joeli Ranitu who were working late until midnight, they came with Inosi the next day. On Friday, I have a call with my executives to talk about my 18, I called around eight and he said he was on a case. We had to leave at 1pm the next day and the 26 players still did not know who was in the 18 so I had no choice but to name the team at 10pm,” Khan claimed.
Khan announced Shabneel Prasad as the team’s new coach.
He is also sticking by their vision of changing the team culture and promoting the exposure of youth teams, in line with their development aspirations.
