The Lautoka football team secured the Battle of the Giants title by defeating Nadi 2-0 in the final held at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday. This victory adds to their earlier success this year, having already claimed the Digicel Fiji FACT title. With the Digicel Fiji Premier League still in progress, Lautoka also looks forward to the Interdistrict Championship (IDC) scheduled for October.
Shalendra Prasad, president of the Lautoka Football Association, reflected on their earlier defeat to Nadi in the group stage. “That first loss was a significant wake-up call. The players were reminded of their capabilities, and we have made a successful comeback,” he stated. Prasad expressed their determination to win the B.O.G. trophy following their earlier triumph.
He also mentioned high expectations for the IDC as Lautoka will be hosting the event. “The players knew their roles in the final and worked hard to challenge Nadi’s strong defense. We congratulate Nadi for reaching the final, but our coaching staff has done an excellent job in leading us to victory,” Prasad added.
Nadi coach Raj Dayal commented on his team’s struggles with execution. “The slippery ground affected our performance, and we failed to capitalize on our opportunities,” he noted. For their second-place finish, Nadi received $5,000, while Lautoka took home $17,000.
In a match impacted by wet conditions, both teams proceeded cautiously, remaining scoreless at halftime. Lautoka took the lead in the 65th minute when star striker Saula Waqa converted a penalty. As the rain continued, the game grew more chaotic, culminating in Nadi striker Siotame Kubu receiving a yellow card for a foul in the 74th minute.
Lautoka maintained their offensive pressure, and in the 80th minute, Waqa set up Sairusi Nalaubu, allowing him to net the second goal. Despite a strong attempt by Nadi to respond, Lautoka’s defense, anchored by right back Sterling Vasconcellos, held firm.
In other news, Rewa Masters claimed victory in the International Veterans tournament over 40s division, achieving a 1-0 win over Nadi Masters at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Nithan Kumar scored the winning goal for Rewa in the second half.