Caption: Celebration time… The victorious Ba side celebrate their CVC win with the Fiji FA officials at Govind Park in Ba. Photo: ANUSHIL KUMAR.
By ANUSHIL KUMAR
4R Electric Ba made a perfect start of their 2015 soccer season after winning the Pillay Garments Champion versus Champion title beating FastKil Pest Control Suva 2-1 in the second leg of the series at Govind Park in Ba earlier today.
The Men-in-Black, having upper-hand with a 5-3 win in the first leg in Suva last week, started the match on a high as they applied early pressure on the Suva goal with a bumper crowd of over 5000 fans enjoying every bits of the game.
Josefata Neibuli blasted home the opening goal in the 17th minute with his 45 yard pile-driving shot which gave the diving Suva goalie Uliasi Tamanisau no chance at all.
The first goal gave more fire-power to the hosts as they dominated most of the possession in the first half as Abbu Zaheed, Shamil Rao and Avinesh Swamy kept the Suva defenders Kolinio Sivuki, Leone Damudamu and Waisake Navunigasau busy on their duties.
Lanky Avinesh Swamy netted-in the second goal in the 26th minute with another pile-driving shot from outside the 18-yard-box as Suva defenders and goalie were caught off their mark as Ba led 2-0 at the breather.
The visitors tried all the possible ways to get the needed goals and claim the CVC title for the first time since it started in 1993, however, it was again shattered by Ba as their only goal in the 83rd minute via Shahil Dave’s penalty was not enough to give them the victory.
Winning coach Shalen Lal was happy with the win and commended the boys for a job well done.
“This win is dedicated to the hardworking players of Ba and it was team effort as the players really played out well sticking to the game plan,” Lal said.
“I think the boys really did wonders today.”
He said the performance of each player decides the final squad for the Men-in-Blacks now.
“It all performance based for Ba now. You perform, you are in the team, and if the performance is down, you (players) know what will happen.
“A lot of weaknesses were also seen in this game and we will go back to the drawing board and see what we can do in our training sessions for our next games.”
Suva coach Gurjit Singh congratulated Ba for successfully defending their title once again this year.
“I congratulate Ba for winning the title for the 19th time as it was their day,” Singh mentioned.
“I knew it will be tough beating Ba as we needed three goals.
“A good build-up for us, trying all the players in the second game and building up for the National League.”