Firstly a happy new year to all our football loving fans, as we look forward to a very busy year ahead of us all.
The 2020 season kicks off with the Pillay Garments Champion vs Champion series between 2019 Courts Inter District champions Labasa and Vodafone Premier League winners Ba at two separate venues.
The first leg will be hosted by the Men-in- Black at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Sunday January 19 while Labasa will host the second leg a week later on Sunday January 26 at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori. Both matches will be played at 3pm.
Away goal rules will be applied to determine the winner in case of tie in both matches.
If the teams end up equal after both legs then a third leg will be played at a venue to be decided by the Fiji FA Board of Control. This match will be played on a knock-out basis with extra time and penalty kicks incase to decide the winner.
The Pillay Garments Champion vs Champion series enters its 27th year this year. Ba and Labasa were the first team to feature in the tournament during its inaugural in 1993 which was won by Labasa.
Ba is the defending champions while Labasa last won the tournament in 2018 beating Lautoka 1-0 at Churchill Park.
Fireworks are expected when the two teams will meet in a two-leg series. Both teams have shown their strength last year and have been preparing to their best to win the first title of 2020.
On behalf of Fiji FA Board and President Rajesh Patel, we are very thankful to Pillay Garments and their managing director Narendra Pillay for his continuous support towards Fiji FA for a number of years. Support from sponsors like Pillay Garments will indeed assist in the development of football in the country.
The winner of the series will walk away with $5000 and the runner-up $2500. In addition to that we will also accommodate preparation grant for both Ba and Labasa.
On behalf of Fiji FA fraternity, all the best to the Babasiqa Lions and the Men-in-Black and we look forward to a successful event.
May the best team wins.
Thank you.
Mohammed Yusuf, CEO Fiji Football Association
