NEW Zealanders Keegan Linderboom and James Hoyt will boost Ba’s campaign in the opening Fiji Airways Oceania Champions League (OCL) clash against FC Gaitcha of New Caledonia at Govind Park tomorrow.
The duo have been roped in to boost the 4R Electric Men in Black’s attack which has been misfiring in the Rewa Galaxy Premier League.
They were scouted by the Ba team officials during the Pacific Cup in Auckland last November.
James is a former Auckland City junior player and the son of former Ba, Lautoka and national rep Mudu Hoyt while Linderboom played for Waitakere United.
Ba Football Association secretary Iliaz Khan said the players had been undergoing special training.
Khan said they had good build up for the tournament. “The inclusion of Keegan and James has boosted our team,” he said.
“We will not take any teams lightly because they are all champions from their nations. We will take each game as it comes.”
Ba is Fiji’s most consistent team in the regional competition.
The Men in Black first entered the competition in 2005 and reached the final in 2007 against Waitakere United.
Since then, the side has reached the semi-finals in 2013 and 2014.
Ba has a record of 39 games in the competition with 18 wins, 14 losses and 7 draws.
Khan said they would be aiming to maintain consistency.
“Reaching the semi-finals will guarantee Fiji two teams at the next championship,” he said.
“So we are going to do our best to get there and we are requesting the football-loving people of Fiji to come out in numbers to support us.
“We are representing the nation just like Suva and we will be discussing with the Fiji Football Association to make transport arrangements for the fans to travel to the match.”
FC Gaitcha is playing in the competition for the first time.
The side includes 2011 Oceania Football Confederation player of the year Bertrand Kai and Pierre Wajoka, who was the captain of New Caledonia club Magenta which lost to Sydney FC in the 2005 OCL championship final.
The match will kick-off at 7pm.
Meanwhile, on the same day Suva takes on Auckland City at the ANZ Stadium in Laucala Bay at 4.30pm.
