Heavy rain caused unplayable ground conditions, which delayed the FMF Inter District Championship matches at Lautoka’s Churchill Park for two hours yesterday. The Labasa team, coached by Ravneel Pratap, was scheduled to face Navua at 4 PM, but the match was postponed to 6 PM, pending a ground inspection by officials from the Fiji Football Association and referees.
Jitendra Reddy, head of Fiji Referees, emphasized the need for caution regarding the playing surface’s safety. “The unfavorable weather had a significant impact on the field,” he stated. “The committee has opted to delay the game, yet we aim to ensure all group matches are completed. Each situation will be evaluated individually.”
Player safety remains a top priority, according to Reddy. Already, Rewa and Labasa have secured their places in the semi-finals scheduled for tomorrow.
In another match, the Nadi team, coached by Raj Dayal, achieved a crucial 4-1 victory over Nadroga, keeping their semi-final hopes alive. Nadi led 2-0 at halftime thanks to goals from Siotame Kubu and Ratu Tulivou. Although Nadroga managed to score through Semesa Sacere, Nadi responded with goals from William Valentine and Kubu, solidifying their win.
Nadi now awaits the result of the Rewa versus Ba match to determine their chances for the semi-finals, needing Ba to win only by a single goal. Nadi Football Association president Mohin Rafiq expressed hope that Rewa would either hold Ba or lose narrowly, reflecting on the effort his team put in following a previous loss.
Additionally, a highly anticipated match between Lautoka and Suva is set to determine who will join Labasa in the semi-finals. All matches were expected to be played as this report was published.