The Labasa Town Council is considering the possibility of hosting the Fiji Football Association’s (Fiji FA) FMF Inter District Championship (IDC) tournament. This announcement was made by the council’s special administrator, Paul Jaduram, following the victory of the Extra Supermarket Labasa football team in this year’s IDC tournament held in Lautoka.
Jaduram noted that if the Fiji FA agrees to their proposal, it would be an ideal opportunity as Labasa last hosted the IDC in 1975, marking 50 years since. The town had previously hosted the IDC in 1969 as well.
Jaduram explained that there are certain requirements set by the Fiji FA that need to be met before the tournament can be held in Labasa. One key requirement is the availability of two and a half playing pitches at Subrail Park, which is necessary due to the participation of nearly 20 district teams competing across three divisions.
He stated that the main ground would accommodate the Super Premier competition, while the Premier and Senior division matches could take place on a second ground. The additional half pitch would serve for training and warm-ups. Additionally, the recently constructed Fiji FA Labasa Academy features two standard pitches that could also be utilized for the Premier and Senior games.
Jaduram, who previously served as the president of Labasa FA, expressed his determination to bring the IDC back to Labasa by 2026 if the current hosting request does not materialize. He emphasized the economic benefits of hosting such a tournament, predicting an influx of football fans from Viti Levu and abroad, which would significantly boost the local economy during the week-long event.
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