Munif Builders Nadi claimed the Dayals Sawmillers Muslim IDC crown after a tight 1-0 victory over Millenium Rentals Drasa in the grand final at 4R Stadium, Govind Park. The match was scoreless at halftime before Nadi broke the deadlock in the second half and then withstood a late surge from Drasa to seal the title.
Both sides traded chances in a tense, physical encounter but Nadi’s solitary strike proved decisive as Drasa pressed for an equaliser without finding the target. The result hands Nadi the Muslim IDC championship and denies Drasa what would have been a fairytale return to the top after a long absence from final stages of the competition.
Drasa’s appearance in the final was, in itself, a headline — it was the club’s first showing in a top-division final since 1991, ending a 35-year gap that made the night a milestone for the side and its supporters. Fiji Muslim League president Haji Ahmed singled out Drasa’s achievement while offering praise for the tournament’s organisation. “First and foremost, we thank Allah SWT for giving us this wonderful opportunity to be here tonight,” he said, also noting the favourable weather and “a magnificent venue” to conclude the competition.
The tournament’s finals day produced fireworks beyond the senior decider. In the secondary schools U17 final, Nasinu emerged victorious over Kamil Muslim College after a penalty shootout. The finish was marred by post-match unrest when several Kamil players confronted match officials, reportedly upset by refereeing decisions late in the contest. Despite the on-field tensions, Nasinu stayed composed in the shootout to lift the U17 trophy.
Other grades wrapped up with clear winners: North East thumped Makoi 3-0 to win the Masters final, while Navua Veterans beat Western Veterans 3-1 to take the veterans grade. The variety of finals underscored the breadth of competition staged under the Fiji Muslim League’s banner for the Muslim IDC calendar.
Haji Ahmed paid tribute to the organising committee, executive members and sponsors for their roles in delivering the tournament, thanking them for their “hard work and continued support” in what he called a successful event. The Muslim IDC finals at 4R Stadium added another chapter to domestic football this season, highlighted by Nadi’s title run and Drasa’s long-awaited return to a top-tier final.
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