Fiji FACT this month

THE 2022 Digicel Fiji FACT will be played over three weekends.

Ten teams will take part in this year's tournament, confirms Fiji Football Association competitions manager Amitesh Pal.

He said the first round would be played on May 22. "Five games will be played on May 22. The venue and time for these five games will be released at a later date," Pal said.

The remaining three rounds of pool games would take place at Sigatoka's Lawaqa Park from May 27-29.

The semi-finals and finals would be played on June 4-5 respectively at Lawaqa Park. The finals would coincide with a veterans’ tournament also at Sigatoka.

Suva is the defending champion of the tournament having won it in 2020.

It was the last time the event took place.

A Sahil Dave stunner allowed them to beat Nadi 1-nil in the final at Sunrail Park.

THE Babasiga Lions will need to work on robust decision-making if they are to maintain a winning position.

Labasa coach Ravnil Pratap made this comment after his team narrowly defeated Tailevu Naitasiri 2-1 in yesterday's Digicel Premier League at Subrail Park in Labasa.

"We take on Lautoka next weekend but the players will need to work on good decision-making while on the field," he said.

"Instead of taking the ball up towards the opposition field, they were taking it down towards their side so it's important to make good decisions while playing.

"We will start working on that because the Tailevu Naitasiri team gave us a good game too."

But for the visiting coach Priyant Manu, this is not the end of his team's successful journey.

"We put up a good game against Labasa," he said.

"However, I am not happy with the ground condition and some decisions made by the referee."

Labasa led the visiting team 1-0 at half-time but the Tailevu Naitasiri team dominated in the first 20 minutes of the second half, resulting in Josua Raqamu's goal to lock the game at 1-all. An own-goal by a Tailevu Naitasiri player rewarded Labasa with its second goal.

I am not happy with the ground conditions and some decisions made by the referee. – Priyant Manu