The Nawaka Blues, coached by Vikash Chand, has become the first team to secure a spot in the upcoming Fiji FA National Club Championship 2024. This achievement came after a 2-0 victory against Gandhi Lionz in the Sher Ali-sponsored Nadi Football Premier Local League final, held at the Korovuto College grounds under floodlights on Monday night. Despite playing with ten men, the Blues clinched the win thanks to goals from Mohammed Shalmeen and Shazil Valentine, each scoring in different halves.
The Nawaka Blues featured notable players including William Valentine, Christopher Kumar, goalkeeper Samu Tamanisau, Shafeem Buksh, Mohammed Shalmeen, Sahil Valentine, and Mohammed Ayman. Coach Singh expressed pride in the team’s accomplishment, stating, “We aim to make the cut for the NCC, the ultimate dream for all teams, and we did it as a team.”
On the other hand, Gandhi Lionz had players like Ame Votoniu, Christopher Chand, Vishant Reddy, and Ashneel Singh in their lineup. In the semi-finals, the Blues progressed by defeating Army FC in a penalty shootout, while Gandhi Lionz triumphed over DCA ONE.
Lawrence Kumar, a member of the Nadi football board, commented on the timely completion of the local league, saying, “Blues will represent Nadi FA in the NCC, we congratulate them on their victory and hope they can bring back the glory days that Tanoa FC experienced.” He also expressed gratitude to the teams, officials, and supporters for their collective efforts throughout the season, looking forward to improvements in the next year.
In the senior division final, Girni FC made history by winning their first title, defeating DCA II 1-0. In their semi-final matches, Girni FC edged out Korovuto 1-0, while DCA II also claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Barara FC.