The top eight teams in the Digicel Fiji Premier League have secured their places in the Super Premier Division of the FMF Inter-District Championship, set to take place next month at Churchill Park in Lautoka. The teams that will participate are Rewa, Labasa, Lautoka, Ba, Nadi, Navua, Suva, and Nadroga.
Tailevu/Naitasiri and Nasinu will be relegated to the Premier Division, where they will compete alongside Bua, Tavua, Lami, and Seaqaqa. The Senior Division will feature teams such as Savusavu, Taveuni, Nadogo, Dreketi, Rakiraki, and Northland Tailevu.
The 2024 FMF IDC pool draws are scheduled for next Tuesday, October 1, at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva at 11 AM. The IDC tournament will run from October 15 to 20.
In other news, three players have been added to the national men’s football team as they prepare for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Oceania qualifiers. National football head coach Rob Sherman announced the new inclusions: 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 ahead of the qualifiers, which will commence on October 10 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
National team manager Kartik Reddy emphasized that these additions aim to bolster the team’s performance as they strive for one of the 1.5 spots available for qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The squad will begin training camp on September 29 at the Fiji FA Academy in Ba, and the final 23-member team will be announced on October 5. However, veteran defender Remueru Tekiata and Muni Shivam Naidu will miss out due to work commitments. 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, competing against the 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 PM, followed by matches against Papua New Guinea on November 14 and New Caledonia on November 17, both to be held at the PNG Football Stadium.