The Lautoka football team secured the Battle of the Giants title after defeating Nadi 2-0 in the final held at Suva’s HFC Bank Stadium. This victory adds to their achievements earlier this year, having also clinched the Digicel Fiji FACT title. The team is still competing in the Digicel Fiji Premier League and is preparing for the Interdistrict Championship in October.
Lautoka Football Association president Shalendra Prasad remarked on the team’s resilience after losing to Nadi in their opening group match. He emphasized the importance of that defeat as a wake-up call for the players, who were motivated to perform better in the tournament. “We wanted to win the B.O.G trophy after our earlier success in the Digicel Fiji FACT tournament,” he stated. Prasad expressed optimism about their chances in the upcoming IDC tournament, which they are hosting.
The final was closely contested, with both teams going scoreless at halftime due to the wet conditions that made the pitch slippery. Saula Waqa broke the deadlock in the 65th minute with a penalty kick. Nadi’s attempts to equalize were thwarted by the Lautoka defense, particularly by right back Sterling Vasconcellos. Lautoka added a second goal in the 80th minute when Waqa set up an unmarked Sairusi Nalaubu.
Nadi coach Raj Dayal acknowledged that his team struggled with finishing and execution due to the playing conditions. Nadi received $5,000 for their runner-up status, while Lautoka took home $17,000 in prize money.
In a related event, Rewa Masters triumphed over Nadi Masters with a 1-0 victory in the final of the International Veterans tournament for players over 40. Nithan Kumar scored the decisive goal in the second half at the same venue.