The top eight teams from the Digicel Fiji Premier League have secured their positions in the Super Premier Division for the upcoming FMF Inter-District Championship, scheduled for next month at Churchill Park in Lautoka. The qualified teams are 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 will take place next Tuesday, October 1, at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva, starting at 11 am. The championship will run from October 15 to October 20.
In other news, three 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 confirmed these additions, which include Leroy Jennings from Sydney United FC, defender Gabrieli Matanisiga of Wellington Olympic AFC, and Suva FC defender Kavaia Rawaqa.
These players are part of a 27-member squad as preparations begin for the qualifiers, with the first round set to commence on October 10 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Team manager Kartik Reddy stated that these inclusions are aimed at strengthening the squad for a competitive campaign.
“We are targeting the 1.5 spots available for qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” Reddy noted. The squad will enter camp on September 29 at the Fiji FA Academy in Ba, with the final 23-member roster set to be announced on October 5.
Veteran defender Remueru Tekiata and Muni Shivam Naidu will miss out on the squad due to work commitments, while captain Roy Krishna is expected to join the team on October 5 following his obligations with Odisha FC in the Indian Super League.
Fiji will compete in Group A, facing the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia. The team will begin their 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 scheduled for the PNG Football Stadium.