BY ROMULUS HUTA
KOSSA coach Eddie Marahare says the absence of former captain and veteran striker James Naka will not affect them heading into this weekend’s Telekom S-League (TSL) Championship Series kick off.
Marahare made this assurance ahead of this weekend’s outing in the first leg of the Telekom S-League Championship Series round one match.
The round one match is against Western United starting at 2pm on Sunday at Lawson Tama Stadium.
To be played over a two-legged contest, Marahare said: “The absence of veteran striker James Naka will not affect team performance and determination to take advantage of the home game match on Sunday.”
But instead Marahare said the club will rely on the leadership of senior players George Suri and Charlie Otainao in shouldering the responsibility to deliver for them in the attack upfront.
“Team hopes rely on the likes of George Suri and Charlie Otainao to shoulder the responsibility to score goals in the prestigious TSL Championship.”
Marahare is eyeing a better and an improved finish up the ladder in the upcoming championship series.
“Our team finished third on the TSL league standing.
“Our objective now is to improve this standing in the championship.”
Meanwhile, Naka was KOSSA’s captain at the beginning of the season before leaving them to join Vanuatu’s Nalkutan for the Oceania Champions League competition.
KOSSA is one of the teams that began their preparation early for the 2018 season.
In January they flew to Vanuatu and played two international friendly matches against Nalkutan at Korman Stadium in Port Vila.
The friendlies were made possible upon request by the Ni-Vanuatu club as part of their preparation toward the Oceania Champions League competition.
