The Nadi Football Association is seeking approximately $17,000 to prepare for the upcoming 2024 FMF Inter-District Championship at Churchill Park in Lautoka, scheduled for next week. Lawrence Kumar, an executive member of the Nadi FA board, made this announcement during a fundraising event at Sylvia Hall in Malolo, Nadi, last Saturday, which saw significant attendance from fans.
Kumar stated, “The event was a grand success as we had a huge number of fans at the event,” and emphasized the need for additional sponsorships to help achieve their goal of breaking a 22-year winless streak at the IDC. He noted, “The team had a good outing at the B.O.G but fell short in the final. However, the morale is high in camp and the focus is to win the cup in the next tournament.”
Nadi FA president Mohin Rafiq expressed his satisfaction with the recent addition of former Fiji Under-20 captain Abdulla Aiyaz to the team. Aiyaz, who is based in Sydney, is expected to form a strong partnership with striker Ali Naseri, who will join the team soon.
Rafiq said, “We have Abdulla Aiyaz from Sydney and Ali Naseri’s traveling documents being sorted. I’m grateful for the arrival of head coach Raj Dayal who is gelling in well. We started with one session and moved on to two this week.” Over the weekend, Nadi played a friendly match against Navua, ending in a 1-1 draw at Prince Charles Park in Nadi. Rafiq noted it was an excellent opportunity for fans to come out and support the team, as the event was free for all attendees.
In related news, ticket prices for the IDC have been announced to accommodate fans of all ages. Grandstand tickets are set at $30 for adults and $15 for children under 10 years old, while Pavilion B tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $10 for children under 10. Fans in the Drua stands will pay $15 for adults and $8 for children under 10. Embankment tickets are available for $10 for adults and $5 for children under 10.