Saula Waqa
{{short description|Fijian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Saula Waqa
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Saula Matayalo Waqa{{cite news |title=FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 List of Players |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWYC/2015/pdf/FWYC_2015_SquadLists.pdf#page=5 |publisher=FIFA|format=PDF|page=5|accessdate=21 July 2016}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1995|10|12}}
| birth_place = Nalawa, Ra, Fiji
| height = 197cm
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Ba
| clubnumber = 15
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Ba
| years1 = 2013–2022
| caps1 = 53
| goals1 = 30
| clubs1 = Ba
| nationalyears1 = 2014–15
| nationalteam1 = Fiji U-20
| nationalcaps1 = 8
| nationalgoals1 = 2
| nationalyears2 = 2015–2016
| nationalteam2 = Fiji U-23
| nationalcaps2 = 2
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2017–
| nationalteam3 = Fiji
| nationalcaps3 = 12
| nationalgoals3 = 8
| club-update = 10 September 2016
| nationalteam-update = 15 December 2017
| years2 = 2022–
| clubs2 = Lautoka
| caps2 = 5
| goals2 = 4
}}
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.{{cite web | url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/saula-waqa/342633/ | title=Saula Waqa| publisher=Soccerway | accessdate=19 August 2016}} 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.
Controversies
IDC 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.{{Cite web|url=https://fijivillage.com/sport/Saula-Waqa-and-Rusiate-Matarerega-to-miss-IDC-pool-games-due-to-disciplinary-issues-r2sk95|title=Saula Waqa and Rusiate Matarerega to miss IDC pool games due to disciplinary issues}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Three-year suspension with fine for Ba's Saula Waqa|url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/sports/football/three-years-suspension-for-bas-saula-waqa/|access-date=2020-08-09|website=Fiji Broadcasting Corporation}}
International career
=International goals=
:Scores and results list Fiji's goal tally first.
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:85%;"
! No !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition | ||||||
| 1. | 7 June 2017 | Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji | {{fb|NCL}} | align=center | 1–2 | align=center | 2–2 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2. | rowspan=3 | 2 December 2017 | rowspan=3 |Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu | rowspan=3 |{{fb|TUV}} | {{center|3–0}} | rowspan=3 style="text-align:center;" |8–0 | rowspan=3|2017 Pacific Mini Games |
| 3. | {{center|5–0}} | |||||
| 4. | {{center|6–0}} | |||||
| 5. | rowspan=2| 12 December 2017 | rowspan=2 |Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu | rowspan=2|{{fb|TGA}} | {{center|1–0}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" |4–0 | rowspan=2|2017 Pacific Mini Games |
| 6. | {{center|4–0}} | |||||
| 7. | rowspan=2| 15 December 2017 | rowspan=2 |Port Vila Municipal Stadium, Port Vila, Vanuatu | rowspan=2|{{fb|NCL}} | {{center|1–0}} | rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" |4–1 | rowspan=2|2017 Pacific Mini Games |
| 8. | {{center|2–0}} |
Honours
Individual
- 2014–15 OFC Champions League Golden Boot (5 goals){{cite news |url=http://www.fbc.com.fj/sports/28908/auckland-city-retains-ocl-title-on-penalty-shoot-out |title=Auckland City retains OCL title on penalty shoot-out |date=27 April 2015 |work=FBC TV |accessdate=2 September 2017}}
- 2017 Fiji National Football League Golden Boot (10 goals){{cite news |url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2017/08/31/ba-striker-saula-waqa-scoops-golden-boot-award/ |title=Ba Striker Saula Waqa Scoops Golden Boot Award |date=31 August 2017 |work=Fiji Sun |accessdate=2 September 2017}}
- 2017 Pacific Mini Games Golden Boot (7 goals){{cite news |url=http://fijilive.com/sports/rugby/news/2017/11/fiji-wins-silver-ends-campaign-unbeaten/39088.Fijilive |title=Fiji wins silver, ends campaign unbeaten |date=16 December 2017 |work=Fijilive |accessdate=18 December 2017}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{sports links}}
- {{FIFA player|385894}}
{{Fiji men's football squad 2016 Summer Olympics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waqa, Saula}}
Category:People from Ra Province
Category:Fiji men's international footballers
Category:Footballers at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic footballers for Fiji
Category:Fijian men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
{{Fiji-footy-bio-stub}}