A review of the football year
JUST like rugby, football had its own thrills and spills. I would like to share those moments via this article.
Kasavu’s big day
Kasavu FC created history after winning the Vodafone NCC for the first time in 76 years. Kasavu defeated Greenstar FC 3-0 in the final at Lawaqa Park. Greenstar faced an experienced Kasavu outfit laced with Rewa reps Simione Tamanisau, Kavaia Rawaqa, Peniame Drova, Anish Khem, Gabirieli Matanasiga and brothers’ Bruce and Setareki Hughes. Seta, Khem and Gabi scored Kasavu’s goals. Simi won the Golden Glove Award and Zain Ali won the Best Upcoming Player Award. Greenstar FC was the team of the tournament.
United legend retires
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney, who is United’s all-time leading scorer and the only player to score 250 goals for the Red Devils, retired from professional football. He reached the milestone when he broke Sir Bobby Charlton’s long-standing record in January 2017. Rooney’s place among the icons of Old Trafford was also secured via his appointment as club captain, an honour accorded to him on the eve of the 2014/15 season. Rooney enjoyed a highly successful career at United, winning five Premier League honours. He also won one FA Cup, three League Cups, four Community Shields, one UEFA Champions League, one UEFA Europa League, and a FIFA Club World Cup. He will be regarded as a great player.
Labasa wins CVC
Labasa beat Suva 2-1 to secure its fifth Pillay Garments CVC football series title. Labasa’s win in the rain, ensured that no team from the South would lay claim to the trophy which has eluded them in 29 years. Labasa struck on extra time of the first-half with a beautifully floated free-kick from Sitiveni Rakai as Marlon Tahioa headed the ball past a flatfooted Suva goalie Atunaisa Naucukidi. The goal sent cheers across the ground and gave confidence to the Lions as they led 1-0 into the break. The lead was short-lived two minutes into the second spell as Remueru Tekiate took advantage of a confused Labasa backline and struck the ball past the wall of red shirts. As the rain poured, the experience of Taniela Waqa broke the deadlock. Labasa defended up to the final whistle sending their ardent fans into jubilation.
Ba scoops youth title
Ba Youth made it back-to-back wins after clinching the FFA organised Under-19 Youth playoff at the FFA Academy ground. The Ba Youth side beat Labasa 4-3, and edged Rewa 1-0 to return home with the spoils. Faazil Ali headed in the winning goal in the dying moments to send the Ba crowd into a frenzy. Rewa just needed a draw since they hammered Labasa 5-0, and things looked right for them until the header that shocked them. Samuela Navoce, Nabil Begg, Peceli Sukabula, Lorima Batirerega and Faazil Ali stood out for Ba.
Manchester City wins EPL
Manchester City won the 2020-21 Premier League title. City was crowned champion for the third time in four seasons after Manchester United crashed to a 2-1 defeat against Leicester. Pep Guardiola’s side was 10 points clear of second placed United, and City wrapped up the title with three games to spare. In the midst of a grueling run of three games in five days, United manager Ole Gunnar effectively handed the title to arch rivals City by picking a weakened team with 10 changes. City had a slow start to the season and after seven matches, Guardiola’s team sat 13th on the table, but then everything seemed to click.
Chelsea wins Champions League
Chelsea beat Manchester City 1-0, in the all- English final, to win the Champions League title. A first-half goal from summer signing Kai Havertz, the most expensive player in Chelsea’s history, was enough to earn Thomas Tuchel’s side victory in front of thousands of fans at Porto’s Estadio Dragao. City’s wait for European glory continued after making its first final in the season’s competition. Chelsea, which last won the Champions League in 2012, was worthy of the thrilling win, having executed a perfect game plan.
Azzurri claim Euro 2020
Italy upset England to win the Euro tournament. Italy’s imposing goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, dived to his left and saved the decisive spot kick by 19-year-old Bukayo Saka, one of the youngest players in Gareth Southgate’s squad. It was England’s third straight failure from the penalty spot in the shootout, with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho also missing. It started so well for England with Luke Shaw scoring the fastest goal in a European Championship final by meeting a cross from Kieran Trippier with a half-volley. England defended and Italy’s equaliser was merited. Leonardo Bonucci was the scorer.
Argentina wins Copa America final
Lionel Messi won his first title with Argentina. After years of championship final heartbreak with Argentina, the 34-year-old football legend won his first major title with his national team after a 1-0 victory over archrival Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final in Rio de Janeiro. The Copa America triumph ended a 28-year drought for Argentina, which last won the title in 1993. It also marked the first time that Brazil failed to win a Copa America tournament that it hosted. Angel Di Maria scored the lone goal.
Brazil claims victory in Yokohama
The Brazil men’s football team rewrote a new chapter in their football history after their epic back-to-back win in Tokyo. Brazil successfully defended their Olympic men’s football gold medal after a 2-1 victory over Spain in extra time at the International Stadium in Yokohama. Matheus Cunha and Malcom goals confirmed the Selecao’s back-to-back victories while Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain sent the contest beyond 90 minutes with his equalizer. Everton’s striker Richarlison missed a first half penalty and a chance to put the game out of sight inside regulation time, but Andre Jardine’s men did enough to earn victory.
Champions League draw redone
There was some controversy during the UEFA Champions League last16 draw. Paris SaintGermain will now face Real Madrid. After mistakenly drawing Man United against fellow group survivors Villarreal in the first draw UEFA opted to redo the entire draw. Salzburg will match up with Bayern Munich. Liverpool and Ajax will try to stay undefeated with respective battles against Inter Milan and Benfica. Cup holders Chelsea will face Lille. Manchester City will start its run against Sporting CP. Real Madrid will face PSG.
Blues rule discipline forces duel
Police defeated Army 2-1 to defend their title. Coached by former Suva football defender Inosi Cava, Police came from a goal down to clinch the title thanks to goals from Lautoka wonder boy Sairusi Nalaubu. Army had the services of Epeli Loaniceva, Simon Prakash Jr, Aaron Edward, Waisea Ravouvou, Peniame Drova, Apisalome Turuva, Epeli Saukuru, Kolinio Sivoki and Christopher Wasasala. The team had been camping for two weeks, and was determined to end their two-year drought, but fell short. Police had the services of prominent district reps such as Akuila Mateisuva, Iliesa Lino, Remueru Tekiate, Filipe Baravilala, Waisake Navunigasau, Joeli Ranitu, Tevita Waranivalu, Gabirieli Matanasiga, Meli Codro, Ratu Anare and Sairusi Nalaubu. Their experience was the key to their victory against the Army side.
Blues nail 2021 DPL championship
The Digicel Premier League came to an end, and the Lautoka and Rewa fans had much to celebrate as their teams finished first and second respectively on the points table. Lautoka was crowned champion after the Blues thrashed Nadroga 3-0 at Lawaqa Park, and the Sugar City boys added icing to their victory cake after outclassing Labasa 2-1 at Churchill Park on Sunday. Lautoka was consistent with their performance and the Viti Water Flowsponsored side did enough to nail the title and pocket $18,000 for their efforts. Coach Imdad Ali, who had a host of names, moulded his side and guided them to victory.
Navua avoids relegation
The Navua side, which was coached by Mohammed Shafil and Tagi Vonolagi in the absence of Amit Prakash, salvaged some pride as they avoided relegation. Upcoming star Mannav Permal scored twice to edge Nadroga, whose hopes lie on a protest they had filed against Nadi. In an exciting fiesta to avoid playing in the senior division, the boys from the Anaconda Town fought tooth and nail and Permal scored the winning goal, after veteran striker, Osea Vakatalesau, equalised for the Nadroga side.
Suva, Ba dominate Futsal
Suva and Ba dominated the Futsal competition, and both sides won the round robin competition. The Digicel Futsal IDC, which will be played this month, is set to spark fireworks as teams will prepare well.
Live commentaries
Thanks to Radio Mirchi and the Voice of Football Raymond ‘The Great’ Stoddart, fans, who could not make it to the ground, enjoyed live commentaries of our local football matches. The goals were shown on FBC TV during the sports news. Stoddart did a wonderful job, and I must admit our commentator is Radio Mirchi’s asset. His voice, expertise and indepth knowledge of football can never be matched.
Tribute to administrators
This year we lost two prominent football administrators, Dr Muhammad
Shamsud-Dean Sahu Khan. Dr Sahu Khan was a long-serving FFA president (elected in 1985) and OFC Executive Committee member. He served as president of Fiji FA for a record breaking 26 years, that is, from 1985 to 2011. He also served as Fiji FA vice-president from 1971 to 1985. He was respected in football circles. Under Dr Sahu Khan’s leadership, Fiji won the Melanesian Cup, and gold medal at the South Pacific Games in Port Moresby (1991) and in Suva (2003). He was at the helm when our boys defeated the Socceroos’ by a goal in 1988. Edwin Rama was the president of Savusavu Football Association. He was passionate about football, and a fan of Argentina. He contributed so much towards development of football in Savusavu, and under his leadership, Savusavu won the 2001 Courts IDC senior division final after beating Tailevu-Naitasiri 1-0.
Messi takes award
Paris St-Germain and Argentina forward Lionel Messi won the Ballon d’Or, which is awarded to the best footballer of the year, for a record seventh time. Messi, 34, helped Argentina to win the Copa America, his first international honour, and scored 40 goals in 202128 for Barcelona, four for Paris St-Germain and eight for Argentina. Germany and Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski finished as runner-up.
Goal Fiji
Hearty thanks to Fiji FA and The
Fiji Times for Goal Fiji, which was informative, as it contained everything about local football.
Fiji FA, Maikeli Seru and his team deserve accolades for publishing Goal Fiji weekly! I wish our valuable readers a happy, blessed and jubilant 2022, and I thank you for a memorable 2021!
RAJNESH LINGAM is a contributor to this newspaper. The views expressed are his and not necessarily of this newspaper or his employer.