Labasa Football Academy Set for Major $2M Upgrade!

The Labasa Football Academy is poised to undergo a significant $2 million development set to commence in March. This was confirmed by Mohammed Yusuf, the chief executive of the Fiji Football Association, during an interview. The ambitious project will feature a high-performance training pitch, with the official debut scheduled to coincide with the Battle of the Giants tournament in August.

In addition to this notable upgrade, the Fiji FA has been proactive in enhancing football facilities nationwide. This includes the establishment of beach soccer and futsal courts at the Labasa and Ba academies, with an investment totaling $500,000. Furthermore, three futsal courts have been revamped, underscoring Fiji FA’s dedication to expanding the sport and providing more opportunities for youth engagement.

Yusuf expressed pride in the advancements made this year, emphasizing that these new infrastructures and successful tournaments aim to motivate future generations of football players. “We are very proud of the success rate we had this year,” he stated, outlining a vision to continue this growth towards 2025.

As part of the ongoing development, the Fiji FA is also preparing to initiate the Lomolomo Land Project, which is pending governmental approval for land rezoning. This $1.5 million high-performance center will encompass two fields, a stadium, and additional facilities dedicated to beach soccer and futsal.

Beyond infrastructure improvements, the Fiji FA has also witnessed success through various major local tournaments held in 2024. The Digicel Pacific Fiji FACT, hosted at Subrail Park in Labasa, saw Lautoka defend its championship title, while later in the year, they clinched another victory at the Rooster Chicken/Scoops Ice Cream Battle of the Giants. Meanwhile, the FMF Inter-District Championship concluded with Labasa as the titleholders, and they continued their dominance by winning the Cecil’s National Club Championship, solidifying their status as a football powerhouse in Fiji.

This development represents not only the physical growth of football facilities but also a strong commitment to nurturing local talent and promoting the sport within the community, creating a bright future for football in Fiji.