The top eight teams in the Digicel Fiji Premier League standings have secured their places in the upcoming Super Premier Division of the FMF Inter-District Championship, scheduled for next month at Churchill Park in Lautoka. The confirmed teams are Rewa, Labasa, Lautoka, Ba, Nadi, Navua, Suva, and Nadroga.
Tailevu/Naitasiri and Nasinu will be relegated to the Premier Division, joining Bua, Tavua, Lami, and Seaqaqa. In the Senior Division, teams such as Savusavu, Taveuni, Nadogo, Dreketi, Rakiraki, and Northland Tailevu will compete.
The pool draws for the 2024 FMF IDC will be held on Tuesday, October 1, at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva at 11 a.m. The championship is set to take place from October 15 to 20.
In addition, three new players have been added to the national men’s football squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers. National football head coach Rob Sherman announced the inclusion of Sydney United FC midfielder Leroy Jennings, Wellington Olympic AFC defender Gabrieli Matanisiga, and Suva FC defender Kavaia Rawaqa.
These players are part of a 27-member squad preparing for the qualifiers, which commence on October 10 at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. National team manager Kartik Reddy emphasized that these additions aim to strengthen the team for a competitive campaign, targeting the 1.5 spots available for OFC qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The team will begin its training camp on September 29 at the Fiji FA Academy in Ba, with the final 23-member squad to be announced on October 5. Veteran defender Remueru Tekiata and Muni Shivam Naidu have been ruled out due to work commitments. National team captain Roy Krishna is expected to join the squad on October 5 after fulfilling his club obligations with Odisha FC in the Indian Super League.
Fiji has been drawn in Group A along with Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia. The team’s campaign will kick off against the Solomon Islands on October 10 in Suva at 7 p.m. They will also face Papua New Guinea on November 14 and New Caledonia on November 17, with both matches taking place at the PNG Football Stadium.