Izaz Janif honoured with Fiji FA Gold Card for devoted Labasa support
The Fiji Football Association has honoured Mohammed Izaz Janif, one of Labasa’s most colorful and loyal football fans, with a prestigious Gold Card that grants him free entry to all Fiji FA-sanctioned events nationwide. The recognition underlines Janif’s lifelong passion for the sport and his unwavering support for Labasa FC.
Janif, a longtime Labasa supporter from Bocalevu, is a familiar face at Subrail Park. His infectious laughter and spontaneous matchday antics have made him a crowd favourite among fans, players and officials alike. His presence during the 2025 Extra Battle of the Giants in Labasa became one of the tournament’s defining moments, with his on‑ground commentary and trademark laughter capturing the attention of spectators and spreading across social media. At the height of the event, Janif coined his now-famous line, “88 minutes, 99 seconds,” a quirky catchphrase that went viral and helped cement his place as a cultural symbol of Labasa football.
Fiji FA president Rajesh Patel called the honour a fitting recognition of Janif’s contribution to football culture. “Izaz represents the heart of Fijian football. His passion brings joy to the game and unites people in the stands,” Patel said. For Janif, the award is more than a personal honour; it reflects the pride he carries as an ambassador of Labasa football.
Beyond his role as a devoted supporter, Janif is an emblem of the community’s ties to football. A profile of Janif reveals him as a 40-year-old mobile vegetable vendor who lives in Bocalevu and supports a family, including a 19-year-old son attending Fiji National University. His daughter lives with his former partner, and he also cares for his mother after his father’s passing. At game days, his roadside business continues to thrive in the stand’s hustle—he buys produce for about 50 cents and doubles the price at the ground, reporting around $40 in daily earnings, a testament to how football Saturdays can double as social and economic events for Labasa.
The season’s highlights also spotlight Labasa’s success, with the team securing the Battle of the Giants title on home soil. Janif’s presence during celebrations underscored the deep bond between the club, its supporters and the wider Labasa community—a dynamic where sport, local enterprise and social life reinforce one another.
This Gold Card gesture shines a light on how dedicated fans help shape football culture and local economies. It also suggests the potential for football events in Labasa to boost sports tourism and create opportunities for community-based entrepreneurship around matchdays. Izaz Janif’s story is a hopeful reminder that loyalty, charisma and community spirit can lift a sport’s atmosphere and strengthen the social fabric of Labasa and Fiji at large.
In short, Janif’s Gold Card marks not only a personal honour but a broader celebration of the powerful bond between supporters and their clubs, and of Labasa’s vibrant, community-driven football culture.
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