A determined Rewa outfit edged rivals Lautoka 5-4 to scoop the first major title of the 2011 Fiji Football Association season.
It was Epeli Saukuru who proved to be the hero, scoring an all-important added time goal to guide Rewa home.
The final round of the Champions League saw Ba and Rewa being front runners for the title, with Navua having an outside chance. Navua upset Ba 2-1 at Govind Park to finish in second place.
Rewa Football Association president Pranil Singh says good team work has been the key to his side’s success.
“I would like to take my hat off to the players and team management,” he says. “Everyone involved put in a lot of effort which I believe guided us well.”
“This is yet another milestone for Rewa football and I would like to thank they loyal fans. Our immediate focus will now be the Fiji FACT title, something which we have not won before.”
Rewa found themselves 3-0 down inside the opening 38 minutes, Nigerian Sanni Issa striking twice and Valerio Nawatu also getting on the scoresheet for Lautoka.
Rewa player-coach Marika Rodu led the comeback, sparking his side into life by pulling a goal back just before halftime.
They were level at the midway point of the the second spell after crucial goals to Saukuru and Solomon Islander George Lui but Lautoka were not done yet and regained their lead when Issa completed his hattrick in the 74th minute.
But Rewa continued to fight and were rewarded as first Ratu Veresa Toma and the Saukuru both scored in injury time to earn a dramatic win.
The Champions League trophy will now sit proudly in Rewa’s cabinet alongside the Inkk Mobile Battle of the Giants and Courts Inter District Championship gongs.
In the other Champions League match, a blunder by Navua defender Pene Erenio saw him score an own goal in the fifth minute to gift Ba a 1-0 lead.
But Navua did not have to wait long for the equaliser and it duly arrived in the 13th minute. The Ba defence misjudged a free kick from veterean Seveci Rokotakala and the nippy Jesoni Takala was on hand to find the back of the net.
Ba upped the tempo in the second half as they searched for the vital win but it was Navua who earned the points, a 51st-minute goal from subsitute Sailosi Livatalo proving enough to earn the victory and secure second place.
For more on Fiji football go to www.fijifootball.com.fj