SUVA FC will head into this year’s FMF Inter-District Championship (IDC) with a blend of fresh faces and proven experience as the Capital City side chases this title on home soil.
The biggest change to the squad is the inclusion of four New Zealand-based players — former Ba representative Emosi Navaba, James Hoyt, Andrew Naicker and Shiville Salesh Kumar.
Their arrival gives coach Pita Rabo added depth as Suva prepares for a demanding Group A campaign against Labasa, defending champions Rewa and Nasinu.
Navaba brings previous top-level local experience from his time with Ba, while Kumar adds another football connection as the son of former Ba representative Salesh Kumar.
Hoyt and Naicker will also be looking to make an immediate impact as Suva attempts to build a squad capable of handling the demands of the six-day tournament.
But the new additions will be supported by players who already know what it takes to win the IDC.
Remueru Takiate returns to the Suva squad after helping the side lift the title in 2022.
Takiate scored in Suva’s 4-0 victory over Navua in the 2022 final, giving him first-hand experience of what it takes to go all the way.
Rabo also knows what it takes to succeed at the tournament.
He captained Suva to the 2014 IDC title, scoring in the Whites’ 2-1 semi-final win over Lautoka before they defeated Nadi in the final.
More than a decade later, Rabo is attempting to bring that experience from the field into the technical area.
“We know the challenge is not going to be easy for us. The players have to dig deeper, and the most important thing is that they believe in themselves,” Rabo said.
Suva opens against Labasa at 8pm tomorrow at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
