Football set to roll for the new season

FIRST of all I would like to wish everyone a happy and meaningful new year as we get ready to commence the 2020 football season.

I know the fans have been eagerly waiting for the kick-off of the football and there is already excitement in the buildup for the 2019 Pillay Garments Champion vs Champion series but I regret to announce that the first leg of the CVC has been shifted to Friday January 24 due to unforeseen circumstance. We regret any inconvenience caused to our fans.

The first leg of the 2019 Pillay Garments Champion vs Champion series will now be played on Friday 24 at Churchill Park in Lautoka at 7pm and second leg will be hosted by Labasa at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori on Sunday 26 at 3pm.

The Fiji FA preseason transfer window is open and I urge players who are wishing to change their districts to think positively before making any decision. We are midway into the transfer window and we have not received any major application till today but I am sure some players are still negotiating with district and will apply before the window closes on January 31.

Our 2019 Vodafone Premier League winners Ba and runners-up Lautoka are preparing for their participation in this year’s OFC Champions League and they have known their fate who they will play and I am sure they will prepare well to face their opponents next month. I wish both teams all the best in their preparation.

For the national coach, we have shortlisted the applicants after a meeting with the technical director and the national team director and will soon progress further for the interview process.

His first assignment for this will be the Tri-Nations Series between Fiji, Tahiti and Solomon Islands hosted in Fiji during the FIFA International Window in March, 2020.

We look forward to having you join us in 2020 for the next 12 months of football delights.