Heavy rainfall caused unplayable ground conditions, leading to a two-hour delay in play 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 a ground inspection by officials from the Fiji Football Association and referees.
Jitendra Reddy, head of Fiji Referees, emphasized the need for caution to ensure the field was safe for play. He noted that the adverse weather had significantly affected the ground’s condition. “The committee decided to delay the game but we aim to complete all group matches. However, we will assess the situation from match to match,” he stated, adding that player safety is a top priority.
Rewa and Labasa have already secured their spots in the semi-finals scheduled for tomorrow.
In another development, the Raj Dayal-coached Nadi team made a strong comeback with a crucial 4-1 victory over Nadroga, keeping their semi-final aspirations alive. Nadi took a 2-0 lead by halftime, with goals scored by Siotame Kubu and Ratu Tulivou. Although Nadroga’s Semesa Sacere reduced the gap to 2-1, Nadi quickly regained momentum with a goal from William Valentine in the 77th minute, followed by a second from Kubu, ending the match 4-1.
Nadi is now awaiting the outcome of the Rewa vs. Ba match to determine their semi-final fate. For Nadi to qualify, Ba must win against Rewa by at least two goals. Nadi Football Association president Mohin Rafiq expressed hope that Rewa would either hold Ba to a draw or lose by a single goal, reflecting the team’s hard work and determination after their previous loss.
An exciting matchup is anticipated between Lautoka and Suva, with the winner joining Labasa in the semi-finals. These matches were taking place as this report was published last night.