New door opens for Ba

Ba’s historical Extra Supermarket Futsal Inter-District Championship is a “is a door opening” for the side, says coach Deepesh Prasad.

The side, that has been dominant in the full code of the sport, spoiled Suva’s party and a possible fifth straight win for the Capital City side after the visitors last minute goal by Golden Boot award winner Etonia Dogalau to give the a 7-6 win at the Vodafone Arena in Suva on Sunday night.

An edge of the seat thriller saw Dogalau score a long-range goal to claim his third goal of the final. Prasad said after the game, in years to come, they would be a local powerhouse.

“Yes, surely I think Fiji Football is building a futsal court in Ba and I think this is a door opening for the growth of the sport and come in a few years’ time, Ba will be a squad to be reckoned with in the futsal tournaments.”

The intense game was dominated by exchange of goals as the hosts scored first through Vineet Nadan. Ba replied with a goal to the lanky Dogalau.

Suva extended the lead through Sunny Deol before Hussaini Khan replied for an equaliser.

With numerous attempts and the slippery field impact the decider, Ba registered the lead through Ruel Graven for their third goal.

Azariah Soromon slotted the equaliser before Dogalau netted his double.

Nippy policeman Shahil Dave beat the Ba goalkeeper Ravinesh Singh’s attempt to stop the ball from the penalty spot as the side levelled at 4-all for the break.

Ba started strongly in the second half as Amena Bolaitamana scored for Ba followed by Ravines Chand. Ba’s celebration was short-lived as Nadan claimed his second goal of the night with Dave’s goal to level the scores 6-all.

Dogalau’s magic touch created the upset for Suva when he scored the needed goal. Meanwhile, Dave was named the Player of the Tournament while Singh of Ba took home the Golden Glove award.

Dogalau took the Golden Boot award while Kavinesh Lal of Tailevu Naitasiri named the Player of Day Four.