The 66th Dayals Sawmillers Fiji Muslim Sports Association Inter-District Championship (IDC) gathered pace in Ba on Thursday and Friday as several teams produced commanding performances at the Xavier College grounds, while organisers wrapped up administrative business at the tournament’s Annual General Meeting. Loud crowds and attacking football signalled a competitive build-up to the knockout stages.
Lautoka were among the day’s standout performers, beating Sigatoka 2-0 in a disciplined showing that combined composure in attack with organised defending to claim maximum points. Nasinu also registered a comfortable win, outplaying Valelevu 3-1 to keep their campaign on track, while Rooster Chicken Ba’s Muslim side stamped their authority with a clinical 4-1 victory over Rarawai.
Drasa produced one of the most one-sided results, routing Varavu 4-0 as they dominated across the park, the scoreline reflecting a cohesive attacking display and control for large periods of the match. The results on the Xavier College pitch served notice that several sides have found form early in the tournament, raising expectations of tightly contested fixtures in the rounds to come.
Off the pitch, the Fiji Muslim Sports Association convened its Annual General Meeting and a Council Meeting, bringing branch delegates, FMSA executives and officials from the Fiji Muslim League together to review the competition’s direction. Agenda items included presentation of the annual report, financial updates and planning for upcoming tournaments, with delegates reporting a strong sense of unity as strategies were aligned for the year ahead.
FMSA General Secretary Mohammed Zeyaad Hussain thanked local fans for their turnout during the opening day, praising Ba’s reputation as “the soccer capital of the country.” “We had a good number of crowd and I want to thank the people of Ba. As people understand ‘Ba Toh Ba Hai’, they have shown their support,” Hussain said, pointing to strong gate interest and community backing for the event.
The tournament, in its 66th edition and sponsored by Dayals Sawmillers, has attracted sustained local attention as teams vie for district pride. With attacking football producing decisive scorelines and administrators confirming plans to strengthen future competitions, the IDC in Ba looks set for more high-stakes encounters as it moves into the next rounds.
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