Fiji regain Melanesia [?] Lory

Sports

By Osea Bola

FIJI stamped their dominance on the Melanesian Cup soccer competition when they won the $5OOO gold-plated trophy for the third time in the fourth year of competition. Fiji grabbed the inaugural competition in Honiara in 1988, successfully defended it in Suva in 1989 but lost to Vanuatu in Noumea in 1990.

The Billy Singh-coached side over came all odds to recapture the prize at the National Stadium in Port Vila on July 30.

Even with Singh admitting he had reservations about the team’s fitness

before they played the final, Fiji went ahead to keep its their record against their Melanesian neighbours intact. The contributing factor to Fiji’s survival was they was were the most experienced team compared to the opposition Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and New Cale donia. Five of the players Ravuama Madigi, Ronald Chaudhry, Josefa Masilagi, Abraham Watkins and Abdul Manaan are survivors of the 1988 campaign.

“That’s the distinct advantage we had over the others as we have a very

experienced pack,” Singh said.

“Some of these people have been playing representative soccer for the last decade.”

Masilagi, Manaan and Watkii played a good defensive game and the human barricade was a thorn in the sic for the opposition striking force.

Singh said the “fighting spirit” amon his men was another contributing facte to their success. Against the Solomo Islands and New Caledonia, Taj Vonolagi and his men came from behin to win.

Fiji’s first game against the Solomo Islands was billed to be the feature mate of the tournament. More so, as their goli medal play-off in the South Paciff Games in Lae last year had to be decide on a penalty shoot-out. Veteran Solomo: striker Dudley Natei scored the first go* but his opposite Radike Nawalu can

Melanesian champions: The winning Fiji team (blue and white) play the Solomon Islands

led out the lead to leave the teams el 1-1 at the breather. Masilagi scored m 30 metres for the winner.

Chasing a 2-1 lead by New Caledonia, i striker Ravuama Madigi capitalised local referee Kaltatak Kalokis incon ;ency five minutes from the end. A free k taken by Epeli Rokoqica saw

adigi writhing in pain.

After protests Kalokis awarded a aalty. Madigi took it for the equaliser.

The drawn match threw the tourna ;nt wide open. Fiji had to beat inuatu by a goal to edge out New ledonia on goal average.

This they did with two goals coming the first 20 minutes.

The Solomon Islands will host the next irnament in 1994, □