Since it was first played in Suva in 1938, the Inter-District Championship has become the most prestigious soccer event in the Fiji FA calendar.

It is a tournament with a rich history. Seventy one years have passed since the momentous decision to hold a soccer tournament involving district teams from October 8-10 in 1938.

Over the years district soccer has grown from a single division of five teams that competed in the 1938 IDC to three divisions of 23 district sides with accompanying age group competitions.

The IDC is now generally considered the most colorful and exciting soccer tournament in Fiji.

Kicking off on Thursday October 8, the 2009 Courts/Homecentres IDC promises to bring the same thrill to the tourist town of Nadi.

A lot of foreign players and coaches have been part of the IDC mix in recent years.

This year is no exception as over a dozen players and some technical adviser will be featuring for various districts at Prince Charles Park.

Nadi last hosted the tournament in 1999 and managed to lift the trophy on its home turf. It will be interesting to see what the “Green Machine” has to offer this time around to the fans that are expected to fill the stands and embankment during the five days of the tournament.

Let’s take a quick look at the tournament over the last decade.

2008
Winner: Lautoka
Runner-up: Ba
Score: 1-0
Venue: Ba
Host district Ba entered the final of the 2008 Courts/Homecentres Inter District Championship with high hopes of making it three in a row but the going wasn’t easy at all after Lautoka’s Malakai Waqa struck the lone and winning goal of the final midway in the first half from an adventurous attempt. The Blues then went into defence mode and did not allow the Men In Black to equalise. Goalkeeper Ali Cem Akbal proved to be the hero of the side making some daring saves in the second spell. Despite Peni Finau’s departure and the Blues playing the last quarter of the match with only 10 players, the Dennis Singh-coached side held on to win on enemy territory and lifted the Lloyd Farebrother Cup after two seasons.

2007
Winner: Ba
Runner-up: Nadi
Score: 2-1
Venue: Suva
Ba fielded a very young team in the tournament and displayed a shaky performance in its pool matches. But after qualifying for the semifinals, the Men In Black did not look back and hoisted the cup once again. With a young goalie Epeli Codro and youngsters Rinal Prasad and Tuimasi Manuca making the starting team in the final against Nadi, the star-studded Jetsetters, with its three overseas imports, were tipped to do well. Avinesh Warran Suwamy, the tournament’s top player, scored the opening goal from a long range free-kick which curled into the back of the net to give Ba the lead towards the end of the match. However, Viliame Toma equalized just on the stroke of fulltime to take the match into extra time. And it was the magic of Suwamy once again that overwhelmed the staunch Nadi defence. Suwamy’s deep cross outclassed goalkeeper Benaminio Mateinaqara, giving space to Malakai Tiwa to sneak in with the header and the winner of the match late in the second spell of extra time.

2006
Winner: Ba
Runner-up: Suva
Score: 3-0
Venue: Ba
Suva proved to be the team of the tournament enroute to the final. The final however turned out to be a one way affair as the Men-In-Black bombarded the Suva defence with excellent goals. Ba also set a record for winning all the major titles in 2006.

2005
Winner: Lautoka
Runner-up: Ba
Score: 2-0
Venue: Lautoka
Lautoka had their ups and downs in the pool games and had to wait for all the pool matches to be completed to know their fate. They qualified as the fourth team in the semifinal and never looked back from there on. Lautoka had to contend with favorites Ba in the final, which also had inspirational captain Esala Masi. But the blues were simply a class of their own and played with a lot of confidence. Australian import Nicholas Marinos proved to be the dangerman for the Men-In-Black as he threatened the defence with his speed and skills. Jone Vono Junior scored the first goal and Alvin Avinesh added the second from the penalty spot after Marinos was head butted in the box by goalkeeper, Isikeli Seva.

2004
Winner: Ba
Runner-up: Rewa
Score: 3-0 (Penalty shootout)
Venue: Suva
Ba and Rewa clashed once again in the finals since 2001. The match was full of excitement as both teams displayed fast paced football. The result of the battle had to be decided through penalty shootout as the teams were scoreless after fulltime. In extra time Isikeli Seva proved to be the star for the Men-In-Black as he blocked three penalty shots consecutively to give his team their famous victory.

2003
Winner: Ba
Runner-up: Nadi
Score: 1-0
Venue: Ba
Ba returned to form at the 2003 IDC and came out firing on home ground. The Men-In-Black continued their impressive form in the tournament and played their hearts out against a Nadi outfit that had the services of several Solomon Island representatives. A lucky strike in the first half was enough for the Men-In-Black to reclaim the title after a two year drought.

2002
Winner: Nadi
Runner-up: Rewa
Score: 4-2(Penalty kicks)
Venue: Ba
Rewa aimed for a back-to-back win but found it tough against a spirited and determined Nadi outfit. Both teams played tirelessly in the mandatory 60 minutes. The match went into extra time, but still the teams could not score goals. The ball finally found the net in extra time with Nadi reigning supreme.

2001
Winner: Rewa
Runner-up: Ba
Score: 1-0
Venue: Suva
Rewa got one of its rare victories in the IDC through the boot of Ravuama Madigi who rifled a powerhouse free kick from 30 yards past Ba goalie Laisenia Tuba. Rewa came in the tournament as underdogs with new president Faiyaz Ali taking charge. The side displayed excellent football throughout the tournament and matched Ba, the traditional champs of Fiji soccer, in all aspects of the game.

2000
Winner: Ba
Runner-up: Nadi
Score: 1-0
Venue: Ba
It was pay back time for the Men-In-Black in the 2000 IDC final. It was a pretty tense and tight affair as both teams failed to score in the mandatory 60 minutes. The game was stretched to the extra time with the golden goal rule and crafty Ba midfielder Keni Doidoi rose to the occasion. He became the hero of the Ba side with his superb curler over the head of the Nadi goalkeeper.

1999
Winner: Nadi
Runner-up: Ba
Score: 1-0
Venue: Nadi
The last IDC of the millennium saw Nadi winning the tournament back-to-back. The win was even sweeter on home soil as Watisoni Voli once again shined for the “Green Machine”.

Fijilive

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