Nasinu and Tailevu Naitasiri football teams will not be participating in the 2024 Rooster Chicken/Scoops Ice Cream Battle of the Giants (BOG) tournament.
Despite Nasinu’s 1-0 victory over Ba in round 12 of the DFPL, which moved them to eighth place on the ladder, they have been excluded based on hosting requirements. Consequently, Suva, which is ninth on the ladder, will take Nasinu’s place as they possess the hosting rights.
Tailevu Naitasiri will not qualify as they are at the bottom of the DFPL standings.
The top eight teams that will compete are Rewa, Labasa, Lautoka, Ba, Nadi, Navua, Nadroga, and Suva.
The pool draw for the BOG tournament is set to take place tomorrow. Group matches will be held from July 26-28, with the knockout stages scheduled for the following week at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Labasa claimed victory in last year’s tournament, defeating Navua 2-1 after extra time in the final at the HFC Bank Stadium, with the pool matches played in Nadi the week prior.
Ba holds the best record in the tournament, having won 17 out of the 24 finals they have participated in.