Heavy rainfall caused unplayable ground conditions, leading to a two-hour delay during the FMF Inter District Championship at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday. The Labasa team, coached by Ravneel Pratap, was scheduled to face Navua at 4 PM, but the match was postponed to 6 PM, pending an inspection of the field by officials from the Fiji Football Association and the referees.
Jitendra Reddy, the head of Fiji Referees, emphasized the importance of safety and the need to ensure the ground was in playable condition. He acknowledged the adverse weather’s impact on the pitch, stating that the committee had opted to delay the game while remaining committed to completing all group matches. Reddy assured that each game would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with player safety being the top priority.
As of now, both Rewa and Labasa have secured their places in the semi-finals scheduled for tomorrow.
In another match, the Nadi team, led by coach Raj Dayal, achieved a critical 4-1 victory over Nadroga, keeping their semi-final aspirations alive. Nadi was ahead 2-0 at halftime, with goals from Siotame Kubu and Ratu Tulivou. Although Nadroga managed to score through Semesa Sacere, Nadi responded with goals from William Valentine and Kubu, solidifying their lead.
Nadi will now await the outcome of the Rewa vs. Ba match to see if they qualify for the semi-finals. Ba must defeat Rewa by two clear goals for Nadi’s hopes to materialize. Nadi Football Association president Mohin Rafiq remarked on the team’s hard work and morale-boosting efforts following a loss earlier in the tournament.
The upcoming match between Lautoka and Suva will also crucially determine who advances to the semi-finals alongside Labasa, with all matches being played as this article goes to press.