BY ELTON LONARATHA JNR
SOLOMON Kings FC head coach Ben Cahn was measured in his response following his side’s heavy 5–1 loss to Tahiti United FC in Round 5 of the Oceania Pro-League over the weekend.
Speaking after the match at HFC Bank Stadium, Cahn acknowledged his team’s shortcomings but pointed to the playing surface as a major factor affecting performance.
“We look at the pitch; it plays a big part,” Cahn said.
“It’s not at the level that it should be for a professional football competition.
“Unfortunately, we’re one of the teams that tries to play football, and we have to have a serious think about how we approach the next game based on the playing surface.”
Team captain Jezz Lofthouse echoed concerns about the pitch conditions but struck a more balanced tone, noting that both teams were subject to the same environment.
Lofthouse said his side managed to adapt during the match, adding that playing on the same surface gave both teams the opportunity to adjust and settle into the game.
The HFC Bank Stadium—formerly known as ANZ Stadium—is a multi-purpose venue primarily used for rugby league, rugby union, and football, as well as athletics events.
With a capacity of 15,446, including over 4,000 grandstand seats and VIP facilities, it remains one of Fiji’s sporting venues.
Meanwhile, Round 5 of the OFC Pro League is currently underway, with teams battling for qualification into the Leaders Group across two venues in Fiji.
Matches are being split between HFC Bank in Suva and the newly refurbished Govind Park in Ba.
Kings, South Island United, Vanuatu United FC, and Tahiti United are contesting all three of their Round 5 fixtures in Suva, while the other four teams are battling for top spot in Ba.
The competition follows a successful Round 4 held in Honiara, where all matches were staged at the National Stadium.
Photo: Zoomfiji
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