Nadi F.C.

Nadi F.C.
Full name Nadi F.C.
Nickname(s) The Jetsetters
Founded 1937
Ground Prince Charles Park
Nadi, Fiji
Ground Capacity 18,000
Chairman Navaneeda Gounder
Manager Kamal Swamy
League National Football League (Fiji)
2015 1st
Website Club home page

Nadi F.C. is a Fijian association football team playing in the first division of the National Football League. It is based in Nadi. Their home stadium is Prince Charles Park.

History

Nadi F.C. came into existence with the formation of the Nadi Indian Soccer Association in 1937 under the leadership of Edward Grant.[1] The local competition held during the year included the teams: Koronubu, Sabeto, Bhartiya and Votualevu. 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. Nadi won the Inter-District Championship (IDC) for the first time in 1969 under the Presidency of Cr. Shri Venkanna Chetty. They have won their last two IDC 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 Zealand's 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 penalty kicks. Nadi's lone goal was scored by Watisoni Voli.

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

Achievements

1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1998, 2000, 2015
1969, 1971, 1974, 1998, 1999, 2002
1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1996
1996, 2013, 2014
2012, 2013

Performance in OFC competitions

1999 – Finalist – Lost against South Melbourne FC Australia (stage 3 of 3)

26 September 1999 15.30
South Melbourne FC Australia 5–1 Fiji Nadi
Steve Isoifidis 8'
David Clarkson 16'
Michael Curcija 47' pen
Vaughan Coveny 50'
Steve Panopoulos 73' pen
(Report) Watisoni Voli 87'
Prince Charles Park, Nadi, Fiji
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: ?

Current squad

Squad for 2013–14 OFC Champions League:[2]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Fiji GK Beniamino Mataniqara
3 Fiji FW Rahul Krishna
4 Fiji FW Jone Salauneune
5 Fiji FW Rusiate Matarerega
6 New Zealand DF Astley Lee
7 Fiji MF William Valentine
8 Fiji DF Krishna Sami
9 Fiji FW Vuniuci Tikomaimereke
10 Fiji FW Uraia Loki
11 Fiji FW Ilimotama Jese
12 Fiji DF Ame Votoniu
13 Fiji MF Jolame Vukivuki
No. Position Player
14 Fiji FW Samuela Drudru
15 Fiji FW Napolioni Qasevakatini
16 Fiji MF Amani Valebalavu
17 Fiji DF Mataiasi Toma
18 Fiji DF Eliki Ravosai
19 Fiji MF Shafim Buksh
20 Fiji MF Lekima Gonerau
21 Fiji GK Vereti Dickson
22 Fiji GK Levi Saukuru
23 Fiji DF Ratu Bainivalu
24 Fiji MF Arvin Pratap
25 Fiji FW Isoa Ratuva

Staff

Position Name
Coach Fiji Joseph Nand (Interim)
Assistant Fiji Pranesh Amarsee
Technical Advisor Fiji Arif Khan
Manager Fiji Ashwant Singh
Physiotherapist Fiji Varoon Karan
Director Fiji Javed Ahmed
Media Manager Fiji Javed Ahmed

See also

References

  1. "FIJI FA District Affiliates".
  2. Nadi FC Official Team List from oceaniafootball.com

Bibliography

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

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