Fiji FACT likely to miss out from 2020 calendar

Listen to this article:

Fiji FA chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf. Picture: FT FILE

IT is envisaged that for the first time in the history of the Fiji Football Association Cup Tournament, its future is in a limbo, at least for the year 2020.

According to the Fiji Football Association, the tournament will definitely not be played in May.

“At the moment it is postponed,” said the chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf.

Yusuf clarified a stance the parent body will adopt concerning an iconic local football tournament.

“We will review the future of the 2020 Vodafone Fiji FACT based on the decisions meted out by the authorities.

“We will have to see whether we are able to squeeze the tournament in the soccer calendar, later in the year, depending on the go-ahead from the Government’s containment efforts.”

The group stages of the 30th edition was slated to be held at the ANZ Stadium in Suva from Friday May 1 to Sunday May 3 and the knockout rounds a week later at a venue decided by the parent body, based on the qualifiers.

Jack’s Nadi is the defending champions of the Vodafone Fiji Fact tournament after securing a hard fought come from behind 2-1 win in a pulsating encounter against a star-studded Suva football team at Churchill Park, in Lautoka.

The Fiji Football Association Cup Tournament is a football tournament organised by the Fiji Football Association and is the brainchild of the late J.D. Maharaj.

It was initially organised to raise funds for the Fiji Football Association following the economic downturn of the late 1980s and the tournament has been played every year since 1991.

Perennial champions of Fiji soccer, Ba has recorded the most number of wins with eight whilst Nadi is the most consistent and successful team in the last decade, winning the coveted title four times, adding to their solitary win in 1996.

In another twist, Vodafone Fiji has suspended all sponsorships with the Fiji Football Association until December 31 this year.

“They have not cancelled the sponsorship. Vodafone Fiji has suspended all the sponsorships pertaining to football,” Yusuf further stated.

The chief executive officer added a positive tone amidst the fracas, though.

“But we understand the situation. Should we be able to re-convene the competitions and all, we will definitely sit down with the sponsors for a healthy chat and chart a way forward for football in the country.”

Meanwhile, the Fiji Football Association’s congress that was scheduled for Friday, May 1 has been postponed indefinitely.

Array
(
    [post_type] => post
    [post_status] => publish
    [orderby] => date
    [order] => DESC
    [update_post_term_cache] => 
    [update_post_meta_cache] => 
    [cache_results] => 
    [category__in] => 1
    [posts_per_page] => 4
    [offset] => 0
    [no_found_rows] => 1
    [date_query] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [after] => Array
                        (
                            [year] => 2023
                            [month] => 12
                            [day] => 28
                        )

                    [inclusive] => 1
                )

        )

)

No Posts found for specific category