Suva FC Coach Rabo Confident of Ending 31-Year Title Drought

Suva FC coach Pita Rabo exudes confidence that his team possesses the necessary drive and self-belief to contend for the Extra Battle of the Giants (BOG) title. The Capital City side is determined to end a lengthy 31-year wait for the coveted trophy, having last lifted it in 1995. Rabo acknowledges the difficulty of their pool, which includes Navua, defending champions Labasa, and Nasinu, but insists his players are ready for the challenge.

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The team is well motivated and I believe it’s not an easy road for us. It’s not an easy task for us, even given the pool that we are in now, but we’re ready for whatever comes our way.

"The team is well motivated and I believe it’s not an easy road for us. It’s not an easy task for us, even given the pool that we are in now, but we’re ready for whatever comes our way," Rabo stated. He recognizes the strength of his opponents, particularly Labasa as the reigning champions and Navua, but stresses the importance of his players digging deeper and trusting in their abilities.

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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. Labasa and Navua are quality sides, especially Labasa as the defending champions, but we are prepared.

Rabo, a former Fiji international, understands that a strong start is crucial in a tournament where every match holds significant weight. Suva's opening game against Navua on September 4 is seen as a vital opportunity to secure three points and build momentum. "The most important thing is the way we start. We want to start well and get the three points against Navua in our first game," he added.

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The most important thing is the way we start. We want to start well and get the three points against Navua in our first game.

Drawing upon his extensive experience as both a player and coach, Rabo is meticulously preparing the squad. He recalls his own playing career, including scoring the winning goal in Suva's 2004 Fiji FACT triumph, and aims to leverage that experience to guide the team towards a BOG title victory. The coach believes his holistic approach, encompassing both tactical preparation and psychological motivation, will give Suva a strong chance in the competition.

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I’ll use everything that I’ve got, my experience and everything I did as a player, to make sure Suva has a good chance of winning this BOG title.