The Esy Kool Air Conditioning Nadi Football side is always an unpredictable team when it comes to a major tournament and no doubt at this year’s Digicel Fiji FACT, the Jetsetters will be out to prove critics wrong.
With mixed results in the first round of Digicel Fiji Premier League this season, Nadi FC has an even pool with Rewa FC, Labasa FC, and Tailevu Naitasiri FC to battle.
A lot of expectations will be from experienced coach Kamal Swamy as Nadi fans wait to celebrate Digicel Fiji FACT victory since 2019.
Nadi has a good chance to progress to the semi-finals, but it will depend on how the players and Swamy execute their game plan, follow instructions and utilize their scoring opportunities on the field.
Swamy was the man who guided the Green Machine to Fiji FACT victory in 2013 in which they defeated Ba 3-1.
Fitness, dedication, discipline, and commitment will be the key determining factors in the first major tournament of the year for Nadi with all local players.
In the DPL round one this season Nadi FC defeated Tailevu Naitasiri 3-0, lost 2-3 to Rewa, and won 1-0 against Labasa FC.
They have a mixture of experienced and youth players with the likes of goalkeeper Vereti Dickson, defenders Ame Votuniu, Vuniuci Tikomaimereke, Patrick Ralulu, midfielders William Valentine, Josua Tawake, Tuiba Batiratu and Christopher Kumar. Young players like Eshan Kumar, Vishant Reddy, Vinayak Rao, Eneriko Matau and Sahil Valentine to name a few.
Nadi has won the Fiji FACT title five times and finished as runners-up 3 times.
The Kamal Swamy coach side will play Tailevu Naitasiri in the opener on Friday, June 9 at 1.30 pm when the tournament kicks off at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. They will then face Labasa FC on Saturday at 5 pm. Nadi meets Rewa FC in its final Group B fixture on Sunday at 5pm.
Players to watch: William Valentine and Eshan Kumar
Nadi FC Fiji FACT file
Runners-up: 1998, 2005, 2017, 2020.
Winners: 1996, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019.
