The top eight teams in the Digicel Fiji Premier League standings have secured their places in next month’s Super Premier Division of the FMF Inter-District Championship, set to take place at Churchill Park in Lautoka. The featured teams will include Rewa, Labasa, Lautoka, Ba, Nadi, Navua, Suva, and Nadroga.
Tailevu/Naitasiri and Nasinu have been relegated and will compete in the Premier Division, alongside Bua, Tavua, Lami, and Seaqaqa. The Senior Division will feature teams such as Savusavu, Taveuni, Nadogo, Dreketi, Rakiraki, and Northland Tailevu.
The pool draws for the 2024 FMF IDC are scheduled for next Tuesday, October 1, at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva at 11 am. The tournament will be held from October 15 to 20.
In related news, the national men’s football squad has welcomed three new players ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers. National football head coach Rob Sherman announced the additions of Sydney United FC midfielder Leroy Jennings, Wellington Olympic AFC defender Gabrieli Matanisiga, and Suva FC defender Kavaia Rawaqa to the 27-member squad, which will compete starting October 10 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
National team manager Kartik Reddy expressed that these inclusions aim to bolster the squad’s chances as they strive for the 1.5 spots allocated for OFC qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The team will enter camp on September 29 at the Fiji FA Academy in Ba, with the final 23-member squad set to be announced on October 5.
Veteran defender Remueru Tekiata and Muni Shivam Naidu have been ruled out due to work commitments, while national team captain Roy Krishna will join the squad on October 5 following his obligations with Odisha FC in the Indian Super League.
Fiji has been placed in Group A alongside the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia. The national team will commence its campaign against the Solomon Islands on October 10 in Suva at 7 pm, followed by matches against Papua New Guinea on November 14 and New Caledonia on November 17, both at the PNG Football Stadium.