14 clubs confirm NCC participation November 02, 2009
Fourteen clubs from seven super premier districts have been confirmed for the upcoming National Club Championship playoff with more clubs and districts yet to finish their competition.
Districts that have completed their local league competition include Suva, Nasinu, Navua, Nadroga, Nadi and Ba while Lautoka’s final of the Local League will be played tomorrow between last season’s finalist GM United and Shop and Save Blues.
Defending champion, Southern Forest Combine of Navua looks the strongest club in the southern zone as the Gurjit Singh coached side is made of up Navua district reps that hoisted the Lloyd Farebrother Cup last month in Nadi.
Other clubs to qualify for the southern playoff include Samabula and Police from Suva, Speed Wing and NTC from Nasinu and Jolly Brothers joins Combine from Navua. Rewa and Tailevu Naitasiri clubs are likely to be confirmed later in the week as the districts are yet to complete their club competition.
Lautoka and Ba clubs look good on paper for the western playoff as all the four clubs from the two districts boast district players.
Blues has the likes of Alifereti Baleiloa, Samuela Kautoga, Samuela Vula, Marika Madigi, Valerio Nawatu, Apisai Smith, Ilaitia Tuilau, Arvindra Naidu and Keni Doidoi while GM United has Jone Vono Junior, Malakai Waqa, Niumaia Tagi and Jerry Radrodro.
Wailiai Youth the champion club from Ba has Alvin Singh, Rinal Prasad, Malakai Kainahewe, Shalen Lal, Shamil Rao, Peter Hughes and Malakai Tiwa. 4R Electrical on the other hand has players like Osea Vakatalesau, Peni Finau, Aisea Codro, Ronil Kumar, Petero Dauniseka, Maciu Dunadamu and goalkeeper Jone Ralulu.
Other clubs that have made it into the western playoff include Downtown and Maro United from Nadroga along with Nalovo and Gandhi from Nadi. Tavua is yet to complete its local competition.
Meanwhile, Labasa and the other premier districts in the north are expected to nominate their clubs sometime this week.
The southern, western and northern playoff will be played at Buckhurst and Bidesi grounds in Suva, Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka and Subrail Park in Labasa on 14 and 15 November with the finals to be played at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori on 21 and 22 November.