VETERAN defender Usaia Tadu and goalkeeper Josaia Ratu starred for Nasinu as the Southerners booted favourites Nadi out of the Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants tournament with a shock 1-0 victory at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday.
Tadu, the oldest player in the tournament aged 39 years, stood as a brick wall in defence thwarting Nadi’s attempts.
Ratu also lived up to expectations with his heroics, saving Ame Votoniu’s penalty to deny the Jetsetters a leveller.
Striker Nasoni Mereke was the toast of the Nasinu team launching high to head in Isikeli Ratucava’s cross past a diving Vereti Dickson in goal for Nadi in the second half.
Nasinu coach Tagi Vonolagi said the players stuck to the game plan which was to frustrate the Nadi players by using the flanks.
Vonolagi, a former national rep, said they only trained for one day during the week because of the persistent rain in the Southern Division.
“Seeing the boys playing their hearts out was just great,” Vonolagi said. “I’m lost for words with all they have done.
We really did not train at all but the boys gave more than their 100 per cent by sticking to the game plan.
“We used the long crosses into the Nadi goalmouth territory and finally got one right.
The game plan was to put pressure on the Nadi players.
“We targeted Nadi striker Rusiate Matarerega up front.
We avoided them to through the middle and played our game out wide.
I’m happy with how Usaia Tadu played together with goalkeeper Josaia Ratu.”
Nadi coach Pranesh Amarsee expressed disappointment with the result.
Amarsee said Nasinu frustrated them.
“Our players let everyone down,” he said. “I think we just did not play football.
The boys lost the momentum after the shifting of the matches. Everyone thought that we will beat Nasinu but I was the one that told the boys that Nasinu will be strong.
“Our boys were over confident. We got a chance to draw after receiving a penalty but missed.”
Teams:
Nasinu: Josaia Ratu, Asaeli Tunidau, Sekove Naivakananumi, Nasoni Mereke, Usaia Tadu, Joseph Mishra (Captain), Jone Rupeni, Isikeli Ratucava, Luke Savu, Arami Manumanubai, Leone Damudamu.
Nadi: Vereti Dickson, Rahul Krishna, Afraz Ali, Rusiate Matarerega, Jeshal Kumar, Christopher Kumar, Tito Vodowaqa, Ame Votoniu, Vuniuci Tikomaimereke, Rupeni Rabici, Patrick Joseph.
