Praneel Dayal has always been a Ba man.
Long before he became president of the Ba Football Association, he was already deeply connected to the district through business, community, and football. A proud businessman from Ba, Dayal, understood exactly what the Men in Black meant to the people of the town.
And when he took over the leadership of Ba FA, he did so with one goal — to bring life back to Ba football.
Now, as the countdown continues towards the BiC Fiji FACT 2026 in Labasa, Dayal prepares for his first Fiji FACT campaign as president, carrying the expectations of one of Fiji’s proudest football districts.
For years, Ba was the heartbeat of local football.
The Men in Black dominated the Fiji FACT scene, winning a record eight titles and building a culture that became the standard across the country. But over time, the club’s dominance faded and so did some of the energy that once surrounded Ba football.
Dayal refused to let that identity disappear.
Since taking over last year, he has worked tirelessly to make football alive in Ba again. Through fan engagement, aggressive promotion of the club on social media and constant interaction with supporters, Dayal has brought the Men in Black back into daily football conversation.
Today, Ba football feels visible again.
The fans feel connected again.
And the black jersey once again carries excitement.
Not everyone supported his methods.
Dayal has received criticism not only from rival district supporters, but sometimes even from within football circles. His outspoken support for Ba, active online presence and passionate promotion of the club often attracted attention and debate.
But criticism never forced him backwards.
Instead, he remained focused on doing what he believed was best for Ba FC and its supporters.
Because for Dayal, silence would never rebuild the club.
“You will always have people talking in football,” Dayal said.
“But everything we do is for Ba football and for the fans who stand behind this team. We want our supporters to feel proud again.”
His commitment has gone beyond administration.
Dayal has also personally supported the club financially, with Ba widely recognised in football circles as “Dayal’s Sawmillers Ba FC” because of the strong backing he continues to provide.
That investment reflects how personal the club is to him.
This is not simply leadership from the boardroom.
It is passion.
It is loyalty.
And it is a belief in restoring the Men in Black to where they belong.
The progress is already becoming visible in the field.
Ba currently sits second on the Extra Premier League standings after 10 matches, just one point behind leaders Labasa. The Men in Black have also emerged as the competition’s most dangerous attacking side with 34 goals scored, including a dominant 7-0 victory over Nasinu in Round 10.
But beyond results, many supporters believe something even more important has returned — the spirit of Ba football.
There is noise around the club again.
There is pride around the jersey again.
And there is a belief that the Men in Black are slowly rebuilding the identity that once made them the giants of Fiji football.
Now, Dayal turns his attention towards the BiC Fiji FACT 2026 — a tournament forever linked with Ba’s history.
From their first title in 1991 to their dominant era throughout the 2000s, the Men in Black built their legacy on the Fiji FACT stage. Yet the district has not lifted the trophy since 2010.
That drought still hurts the people of Ba.
And as Dayal prepares for his first Fiji FACT as president, he knows exactly what the supporters are dreaming of — not just another campaign, but the return of the Men in Black as kings of Fiji football once again.
The BiC Fiji FACT 2026 kicks off on June 19 at Subrail Park in Labasa, while the official pool draws will be conducted this Saturday.
