Lautoka plans for 2019 feat

THE Lautoka football side is keen to do the country proud in the 2018 Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Champions League.

The Vodafone Blues qualified for the quarter-finals of the regional competition despite losing to defending champions Auckland City 1-0 on Saturday.

The quarter-finals draws for the competition will be held today with the group winners being the hosts.

The Sugar City side returned from New Zealand yesterday receiving overwhelming support.

Cory Chettleburgh was the only notable absentee as he has been given time to spend with his family.

Lautoka coach Kamal Swamy said they would resume training on Thursday in preparation for the next stage.

"We had meetings with our officials in New Zealand on how we are going to prepare for the quarter-final," Swamy said.

"We will resume training on Thursday, looking at the injuries, the family commitments and the national duties.

"There are no major injury concerns. I think four or five players will be going for national duties.

"We will have to deal with the numbers that are left to prepare. We will also have the national league in between.

"Cory has remained in New Zealand and he will be joining us later. He wanted some leave.

"We are proud to qualify for the quarter-finals. It is not only Lautoka, we represented the country. It is a great achievement and we are looking forward to the next match."

The quarter-finals will be held from April 7-8.