LAUTOKA – Defending National Club champions General Machinery United qualified to defend its title after topping the Lautoka league yesterday.
The side also created history as the first team from the Sugar City competition to win the local league for the fourth year in a row.
The side beat arch-rivals Lautoka General 3-1 in the league semi-finals yesterday to qualify for the NCC.
The champions went on to beat United Sangam 2-0 in the final. United Sangam is the other team from Lautoka that has qualified for the meet.
Laced with a host of reps, GM United will entre the NCC with players like Fiji representatives Alvin Avinesh and Taniela Waqa Evo.
National Under-23 players Taniela Waqa Junior, Manueli Kalou, Shameel Rao and Nicholas Lawrence will also boost the side.
GM United president Alvin Singh said the side was proud to qualify into the NCC play-offs.
“This win was a landmark achievement for Lautoka soccer because we became the first team to win the local league for the fourth year in a row,” said Singh.
“It just goes to show the dedication put in by players during training and when playing.”
Singh said they were looking to take their success to the national level.
The NCC will kick-off with the zonal playoffs on January 19-20.
The playoffs will be held in Nausori, Labasa and Lautoka. The NCC finals will be held in Suva on January 26-27.