Saula Waqa (born 12 October 1995) is a Fijian footballer who plays for Ba FC in the Fiji National Football League. He represented Fiji in the football competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[2] Waqa has represented Nailaga Football Club and Flying Arrows Football Club in the local district club competitions. Being picked into the Ba squad at a very young age, Waqa has been instrumental in many big matches for the Fiji football giants scoring crucial goals. He was rewarded by Ba FC with the captain's arm bend at the age of 24 in 2020 after many senior players retired or left the club to join other teams.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Saula Matayalo Waqa[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 12 October 1995 | ||
| Place of birth | Nalawa, Ra, Fiji | ||
| Height | 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ba | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ba | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2013–2022 | Ba | 53 | (30) |
| 2022– | Lautoka | 5 | (4) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2014–15 | Fiji U-20 | 8 | (2) |
| 2015–2016 | Fiji U-23 | 2 | (0) |
| 2017– | Fiji | 12 | (8) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 September 2016 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 15 December 2017 | |||
Controversies
editIDC Suspension
Fiji FA disciplinary committee suspended Waqa from taking part in the 2017 Inter District Championship pool round after he had failed to show up for an earlier national team training camp. He was suspended along with Nadi's striker, Rusiate Matarerega.[3]
Positive drug use
Saula Waqa was the captain of the Ba Football team for the 2020 Battle of the Giants Tournament where he tested positive for banned substance after the first round of matches. He was subsequently suspended from all levels of football for 3 years by the Fiji Football Association. Fiji Football Association's CEO, Mohammed Yusuf said Waqa was a repeat offender. Waqa and the Ba Football Association were also fined $500 each. Saula Waqa scored twice as Ba beat Nasinu 7–3 in their opening match of the tournament.[4]
International career
editInternational goals
edit- Scores and results list Fiji's goal tally first.
| No | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 7 June 2017 | Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji |  New Caledonia |
1–2 | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2. | 2 December 2017 | Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu |  Tuvalu |
3–0 |
8–0 | 2017 Pacific Mini Games |
| 3. | 5–0
| |||||
| 4. | 6–0
| |||||
| 5. | 12 December 2017 | Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu |  Tonga |
1–0 |
4–0 | 2017 Pacific Mini Games |
| 6. | 4–0
| |||||
| 7. | 15 December 2017 | Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu | New Caledonia |
1–0 |
4–1 | 2017 Pacific Mini Games |
| 8. | 2–0
|
Honours
editIndividual
- 2014–15 OFC Champions League Golden Boot (5 goals)[5]
- 2017 Fiji National Football League Golden Boot (10 goals)[6]
- 2017 Pacific Mini Games Golden Boot (7 goals)[7]
References
edit- ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. p. 5. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- ^ "Saula Waqa". Soccerway. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
- ^ "Saula Waqa and Rusiate Matarerega to miss IDC pool games due to disciplinary issues".
- ^ "Three-year suspension with fine for Ba's Saula Waqa". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Auckland City retains OCL title on penalty shoot-out". FBC TV. 27 April 2015. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ "Ba Striker Saula Waqa Scoops Golden Boot Award". Fiji Sun. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
- ^ "Fiji wins silver, ends campaign unbeaten". Fijilive. 16 December 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2017.
External links
edit- Saula Waqa at Soccerway.com
- Saula Waqa at FBref.com
- Saula Waqa at Olympedia
- Saula Waqa – FIFA competition record (archived)
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