The Labasa Town Council is considering the possibility of hosting the Fiji Football Association’s FMF Inter District Championship (IDC) tournament. This move follows the success of the Extra Supermarket Labasa football team, which recently won this year’s IDC tournament in Lautoka.
Paul Jaduram, the chairperson of the Council’s special administration, expressed that it would be an ideal time for Labasa to host the tournament again, given that the town last held the IDC in 1975, marking 50 years since then. The previous hosting occurred in 1969.
Jaduram explained that Fiji FA has specific requirements that need to be fulfilled for the tournament to be held in Labasa, including the availability of two and a half playing pitches at Subrail Park. With nearly 20 district teams expected to compete across three divisions, the main ground would serve the Super Premier competition, while the second ground would accommodate the Premier and Senior division matches. The extra half pitch would be designated for training and warm-ups.
He also noted that the newly constructed Fiji FA Labasa Academy features two standard pitches, which could serve as alternative venues for the Premier and Senior games. Despite the efforts to host the IDC, the council is also looking towards 2026 as a target year for bringing the tournament back to Labasa.
Jaduram, who is also a former president of Labasa FA, emphasized his commitment to this goal, saying, “I will try my best to bring the IDC back to Labasa.” In addition to the sporting aspect, he highlighted the economic benefits of hosting such an event, as it would attract football fans from Viti Levu and other regions, thereby stimulating the local economy during the week-long tournament.
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