Nadi F.C.: Difference between revisions

Nadi FC

Full name	Nadi FC
Founded	1937
League	National Football League (Fiji)
2006	3
Home colours

Nadi FC are a Fijian soccer team from Nadi, currently playing in the Fijian top league.

History

Nadi F.C. came into existence with the formation of the Nadi Indian Soccer Association in 1937. The local competition held during the year included the teams: Koronubu, Sabeto, Bhartiya and Vutualevu. Nadi played for the first time in the Inter-district competition in 1939, when it beat Nadroga in the preliminary round by 2 goals to nil but lost to Rewa in the semi-final by the same margin.

Nadi are 8 time champions of Fiji. They have won their last two Inter District Championship finals (against Lautoka 3-1 in 1998 and Ba 1-0 in 1999), which came after their last IDC win in 1974. Nadi qualified for the championship after a 3-team playoff with Ba and Labasa. Ba were favourites to win the play-offs but were upset in the first match against Labasa by 3-0. Nadi then beat Labasa by 3-0 and Ba 1-0 to qualify for the Oceania Club Championship.

1999 Oceania Club Championship

In the Championship, which they hosted, Nadi beat New Zealands Central United 1-0 in the semi finals courtesy of a Marika Namaqa free kick. Nadi, an amateur team, then lost the final to Australia's South Melbourne FC, a professional outfit, by 5-1. This match was played in heavy rain, with South Melbourne scoring 3 by penalty kicks. Nadi's lone goal was scored by Watisoni Voli.

The Nadi team of 1998/1999 were: Seremaia Tale, Waisiki Batina, Emosi Baleinuku, Kini Tubi, Ponipate Naulu, Timoci Matinitu, Thomas Roberts, Viliame Toma, Marika Namaqa, Masi Naitisiwai, Maika Kasaki, Watisoni Voli and Alipate Driu.

The next year in 2000, Nadi went undefeated in the National League by winning 17 of the 18 games and drawing one against Ba.

Former notable players

The Nadi soccer team has produced great players like

• Rusiate Waqan
• Savenaca Waqa
• Manu Poker
• Henry Dyer
• Inosi Tora
• Marika Ravula
• Eswa (Ninja) Nadan
• Dan Lutumailagi
• Qawali
• Batram Suri

Achievements

• League Championship (for Districts) : 8

1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1998, 2000

• Inter-District Championship : 6

1969, 1971, 1974, 1998, 1999, 2002

• Battle of the Giants: 5

1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1996

• Fiji Football Association Cup Tournament: 1

1996

See also

• Fiji Football Association

References

M. Prasad, Sixty Years of Soccer in Fiji 1938 – 1998: The Official History of the Fiji Football Association, Fiji Football Association, Suva, 1998.