Unplayable ground conditions caused by heavy rainfall led to a two-hour delay in the FMF Inter District Championship at Lautoka’s Churchill Park yesterday.
The Labasa team, managed by Ravneel Pratap, was scheduled to play Navua at 4 p.m., but the match was postponed to 6 p.m., contingent on the results of an inspection by officials from the Fiji Football Association and referees.
Jitendra Reddy, the head of Fiji Referees, emphasized the importance of ensuring the ground was safe for play. He acknowledged that the adverse weather had affected the playing surface. Reddy stated, “While the committee has resolved to delay the game, we are committed to completing all group matches. However, we will evaluate the situation on a game-by-game basis.” He added that the safety of the players is the top priority.
Rewa and Labasa have already secured their spots in the semi-finals scheduled for tomorrow.
In another match, the Nadi team, coached by Raj Dayal, kept their semi-final hopes alive with a vital 4-1 victory over Nadroga. Nadi established a 2-0 lead at halftime, thanks to goals from Siotame Kubu and Ratu Tulivou. Nadroga managed to score through Semesa Sacere, reducing the deficit to 2-1, but Nadi responded fiercely with a goal from William Valentine in the 77th minute, followed by Kubu securing his second to finalize the score at 4-1.
Nadi is now waiting for the outcome of the match between Rewa and Ba to determine their fate. Ba must achieve a victory over Rewa by at least two goals to advance to the semi-finals. Nadi Football Association president Mohin Rafiq expressed hope, saying, “With four points, we are counting on Rewa either to hold Ba or lose by a single goal. Our team worked hard following the loss on day two, and we managed to boost their morale. We recognized that Nadroga would be a tough opponent and did not take them lightly.”
The upcoming match between Lautoka and Suva is also highly anticipated, as it will determine which team joins Labasa in the semi-finals. All these matches were being contested when this edition went to press last night.