Heavy rainfall caused significant delays at the FMF Inter District Championship held at Lautoka’s Churchill Park yesterday, making the ground unplayable for two hours. The scheduled match between the Labasa team, coached by Ravneel Pratap, and Navua, originally set for 4 PM, was postponed to 6 PM, pending an inspection by officials from the Fiji Football Association and referees.
Jitendra Reddy, head of Fiji Referees, emphasized the importance of safety and the need for precautionary measures to ensure the field was fit for play. He noted, “The unfavourable weather has impacted the ground, and while the committee has decided to delay the game, we aim to complete all group matches. Each situation will be evaluated as the games proceed.”
As of now, Rewa and Labasa have already secured their places in the semi-finals scheduled for tomorrow.
In another match, the Nadi team, coached by Raj Dayal, claimed a vital 4-1 victory against Nadroga, keeping their semi-final aspirations alive. Nadi dominated the first half, leading 2-0 with goals from Siotame Kubu and Ratu Tulivou. Nadroga managed to narrow the gap with a goal from Semesa Sacere but could not keep up with Nadi’s offense. Nadi’s William Valentine scored in the 77th minute, followed by Kubu netting his second goal.
Nadi’s future in the tournament now hinges on the outcome of the match between Rewa and Ba, as Nadi needs Ba to win by two clear goals for a chance to advance. Nadi Football Association president Mohin Rafiq expressed hope for their team, stating, “Nadi has four points and will be rooting for Rewa to hold Ba or lose by a single goal. The team worked hard to uplift their spirits following a second-day loss.”
An exciting match between Lautoka and Suva is also set to determine who will join Labasa in the semi-finals. These matches occurred as this report was being prepared last night.