The race for the best soccer club in Fiji has begun after Fiji Football Association announced proceedings for the 2008 National Club Championship this morning.
Top clubs from the Rewa Football Association, Raymonds and United, are seeded at the top of Pool One along with Shop and Save Blues from Lautoka and Siberia from Labasa.
Suva Police, Southern Forest Combine from Navua, Lautoka’s GM United and Eagles club from Nadi will feature in Pool Two.
The eight top qualifiers for the National Club championship are now entitled to make only three changes to their outfit that will feature in the final round of the Modern Glass and Mirror-sponsored event which will be played at Govind Park this weekend.
Fiji Football Association CEO Bob Kumar confirmed that only three changes can be made provided that the players are registered club members.
“The eight clubs in the final round are the top finishers from the Southern, Western and Northern zones. We have drawn them into two pools,” Kumar said.
“The rules also state that clubs that have qualified from round one are eligible to change up to three players after the first registration. Changes made should be for players that have registered for the club from the beginning of the season. Clubs cannot field any other players from a new club because this rule does not apply to the window period.”
Some clubs and associations have raised concerns regarding the venue of the final round and Kumar said that Govind Park has become the top choice for the event.
“We’ve been given $8000 towards the funding of the tournament, $500 given to the eight teams to prepare while $1000 will be given to the runners up and $3000 for the winner. The organization of the event and additional cost is funded by the Fiji FA.”
“There are no teams from Ba qualifying to the event and we have given different venues for the first round to make it convenient for clubs.
"We tried to have the final round played in Nadi because that’s where the sponsors are from but unfortunately Prince Charles Park has been booked.
"Lautoka does not have two good grounds and the condition of Buckhurst and Bidesi Park is not up to par and the same applies to Thompson Park in Navua,” Kumar added.
“We worked out strategies and Govind Park was the best choice because its our home ground. We don’t have to pay ground fee, the ball boys are readily available, and we have accommodation for the referees. NCC is not about putting two teams on the ground, we also have to look into the organization of the event.”
Pool One: Raymond (Rewa), United One (Rewa), Shop and Save Blues (Lautoka), Siberia (Labasa).
Pool Two: Suva Police (Suva), Southern Forest Combine (Navua), GM United (Lautoka), Eagles (Nadi).
Story courtesy of www.Fijilive.com