FIJI PREPARES FOR ANNUAL INTER-DISTRCT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Preparations for what is arguably Fiji’s premier football event, the Inter-District Championships (IDC) have stepped up this week as the District sides prepare for kick-off on October 6 in Lautoka.

The 10 team Super Premier competition will again be the pinnacle event, with Ba, Labasa, Lautoka, Tavua, Nadi, Navua, Nadroga, Nasinu, Rewa, and Suva all vying for the $15,000 (FJD) prize money. Also contested during the IDC are the Senior competition as well as Secondary and Primary Schools divisions.

The tournament is in its 68th year and as always the competition is highly anticipated. The cream of home-based talent, as well as Fijian players from around the Pacific and a sprinkling of overseas “imports” brought in for the tournament from Australia, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands will converge on Churchill Park for the five-day festival of soccer.

Ba has emerged as a favourite for the IDC title after claiming the Super 6 (National League) title over the weekend by defeating rival Navua 1-0. Led by national team skipper Esala Masi, the squad is entirely Fiji-based and the “men in black” will look to rediscover the kind of form that has seen them win back-to-back IDC titles.

Stacked with national reps including Lorima Dau and Australian-based Thomas Vulivuli the southern district Navua will look to be among the leading contenders. The 2005 Battle of the Giants champions will be without All White Che Bunce and fellow kiwis Michael Mayne and Matt Williams who are involved in preparations for the New Zealand Football Championship, all three played in the BOG earlier this year.

Nasinu feature no less than seven Solomon Islands internationals in their squad, including former national team captain Batram Suri – a regular visitor to the IDC – and goal-scoring machine Kidston Billy. Four members of the Solomons connection are currently attending the University of the South Pacific with another in high school.

There is also a Solomons influence in Nadi’s planning, and an Australian feel to host district Lautoka and Nadroga. Labasa, Rewa, Suva, and Tavua will rely on their homegrown talent for the duration of the tournament.

Off the field too, the action will be intense as long-serving Dr. Shamshud Dean Sahu Khan and former Sports Fiji Chief Executive vie to be President of the Fiji Football Association.

Previous Winners (number of wins) – Ba (20); Lautoka (14); Suva (10); Rewa (8); Nadi (6); Nadroga (3); Labasa (2); Nasinu (1); Tavua (1)