Epic showdown expected in OFC playoff
AN epic showdown is expected on Thursday as Lautoka takes on Rewa in the Oceania Football Confederation Champions League Playoff at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori.
Lautoka has just returned from competing at the Pillay Garment Champions vs Champions Series where they defeated Ba FC for the title.
Fiji Football Association CEO Mohammed Yusuf said both teams had a bulk of national reps and the two matches would be close calls.
“The winner from the playoffs will be receiving $30,000 from our major sponsor, Digicel, where they will then be representing Fiji at the OFC Champions League in Tahiti.”
Yusuf added they are expecting fans to attend the playoff in numbers despite the match being held on a weekday.
“We know the match will be held in the middle of the week, but we are still expecting a lot of fans to turn up at Ratu Cakobau Park.
“Since this is an OFC match, we will be following all OFC protocols and procedures as we had at the CVC tournament in Lautoka on Sunday.”
He said they were expecting to have more than a thousand fans attend the match which starts at 3pm.
“We had Suva FC represent Fiji in the OFC Champions League last year, where they were the first team from Fiji to reach the final of the tournament.”
The side managed to reach the finals last year where they went down fighting 3-1 to Auckland City.
“For the OFC Champions League, Fiji has been placed in Group A alongside teams from Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, and New Zealand.”
“Competing at this tournament is a huge deal, and both these two teams, Lautoka and Rewa will be out to book their spots in representing Fiji.”
The winner from the playoffs will then represent Fiji in the OFC Champions League in Tahiti on May 17.
Meanwhile, the Digicel Fiji Premier League kick starts on February 18 where Rewa will be facing Labasa at the same venue. Other DFPL matches includes Ba taking on Suva at the FFA Academy grounds in Ba, Nadi going up against Tailevu Naitasiri at Prince Charles Park, Nasinu hosting Lautoka at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva while Nadroga plays Navua at the Uprising Sports Complex in Pacific Harbour.