The top eight teams in the Digicel Fiji Premier League have secured their places in next month’s Super Premier Division of the FMF Inter-District Championship, which will take place at Churchill Park in Lautoka. The confirmed 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, joined by Bua, Tavua, Lami, and Seaqaqa. The Senior Division will feature teams including Savusavu, Taveuni, Nadogo, Dreketi, Rakiraki, and Northland Tailevu.
The draw for the pools of the 2024 FMF IDC is scheduled for next Tuesday, October 1, at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva at 11 am. The tournament will run from October 15 to 20.
In other news, three new players have been added to the national men’s football squad ahead of the FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers. National football head coach Rob Sherman confirmed that Sydney United FC midfielder Leroy Jennings, Wellington Olympic AFC defender Gabrieli Matanisiga, and Suva FC defender Kavaia Rawaqa have joined the 27-member squad.
Team manager Kartik Reddy stated that their inclusion is intended to bolster the squad’s strength as they pursue qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, vying for the 1.5 spots available to the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). The squad will gather for training 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 will not participate due to work commitments. Additionally, national team captain Roy Krishna is set to join the squad on October 5, following his club obligations with Odisha FC in the Indian Super League.
Fiji is placed in Group A alongside the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia, with their first match against the Solomon Islands scheduled for October 10 in Suva at 7 pm. They will subsequently face Papua New Guinea on November 14 and New Caledonia on November 17, both at the PNG Football Stadium.