WHEN Shaheen Hussain succeeded long-time Labasa FA president Rayaz Khan, he inherited far more than an administrative position.
He inherited the expectations of one of Fiji’s proudest football districts.
In the North, football is never just football. Every result is discussed in homes, markets and cane fields. Every tournament carries emotion. Every trophy becomes part of Vanua Levu folklore.
And now, with Labasa preparing to host the 2026 BiC Fiji FACT — Fiji FA’s first major tournament of the season — Hussain finds himself carrying both the excitement and pressure of an entire district.
The official pool draws for the tournament will be conducted this Saturday, while the competition itself kicks off on June 19 at Subrail Park in Labasa.
With anticipation building across the country, the North is already preparing for what is expected to be one of the most exciting editions of the tournament in recent years.
But if recent months are any indication, the Babasiga Lions president appears comfortable with the challenge.
His reign began in dream fashion last year when Labasa captured the 2025 BiC Fiji FACT title after defeating Rewa in a dramatic final in Suva.
After the teams were locked 1-1 at full-time and remained scoreless in extra time, Labasa held their nerve in the penalty shootout to secure a memorable victory and lift the first major tournament trophies.
Now Hussain is chasing something Labasa has not achieved in decades — back-to-back Fiji FACT titles.
And history makes the challenge even more significant.
The last time Labasa won the Fiji FACT on home soil was in 1992 when the Babasiga Lions defeated Nadroga 1-0 in front of passionate northern supporters.
For many longtime fans, that victory remains one of the proudest moments in Labasa football history.
More than three decades later, Hussain could now guide the club toward another potentially historic home triumph.
A key figure in that mission is coach Alvin Chand, whose calm approach and tactical discipline have helped shape Labasa into one of the country’s most organised teams this season.
Chand has steadily earned respect for the structure and balance he has brought to the Babasiga Lions squad. Under his guidance, Labasa has combined defensive discipline with attacking confidence, conceding only eight goals in 10 league matches while remaining among the competition’s most consistent performers.
But behind the scenes, another influential figure continues to play a massive role in Labasa’s rise — experienced team manager Ravinesh Chand, better known in football circles as “Rabba”.
Hussain openly credits Rabba as one of the driving forces behind the team’s organisation and unity.
“He is the heart of this team,” Hussain said.
“He makes everything happen and does everything for me to run this team.”
The comments reflect the strong working relationship developing within the Labasa camp as the district prepares for one of its biggest football years in recent memory.
Together, Hussain, Chand and Rabba now carry the hopes of a football-mad region eager to witness another historic northern campaign.
What makes Labasa’s rise even more impressive is the number of key players the side lost after last season.
The Babasiga Lions saw Ilisoni Lolaivalu and Rusiate Doidoimove to Ba, while Eparama Moraica departed for a club in New Zealand. Christopher Wasasala and Joji joined the Bula Boys setup,Lekima Gonerau joined Hekari United FC, while Netani Suluka and Sekove were unavailable through suspension.
In total, Labasa lost eight players from the previous campaign.
Yet despite the setbacks, the club has remained competitive and currently leads the Extra Premier League standings after 10 rounds.
“We still built a competitive team,” Hussain said.
That resilience has become one of the major talking points of the season.
After 10 rounds, Labasa sit on top of the standings with 21 points, narrowly ahead of Ba and Lautoka in what is shaping into one of the closest title races in recent years.
The Babasiga Lions have won six matches, drawn three and lost only once while scoring 20 goals and conceding just eight.
Their recent 2-1 victory over Rewa further strengthened their position at the summit and reinforced the growing feeling that Labasa may again become a serious force in Fiji football.
Still, Hussain and Chand know nothing comes easy in local football.
Ba remain just one point behind with the competition’s most explosive attack, scoring 34 goals already this season. Lautoka, meanwhile, continue to quietly build momentum with only one defeat in 10 matches.
And when the Fiji FACT begins, league form alone will mean little.
“Tournament football is different,” “Pressure changes everything.”
That pressure will only intensify because the tournament is returning to Labasa.
For the North, hosting the Fiji FACT means far more than sport. Hotels fill quickly. Businesses benefit. Families travel from surrounding areas. And Subrail Park transforms into one of the country’s loudest football venues.
Few places in Fiji match the atmosphere generated by a packed northern crowd.
Drums echo through the ground. Flags wave from every corner. And the Babasiga Lions traditionally rise with the energy of their supporters behind them.
Hussain also acknowledged the role played by Labasa executives, supporters and major sponsor Extra Supermarket in helping the team remain competitive during a difficult rebuilding period.
Their continued backing has helped the district maintain stability while reshaping the squad ahead of the home tournament.
But history also adds weight to the job.
The Fiji FACT has produced some of the country’s greatest football memories since the modern competition began in 1991.
Ba established themselves as one of the tournament’s dominant forces across multiple generations. Nadi built a proud cup legacy during the 1990s and early 2000s. Suva consistently emerged as a knockout specialist, while Rewa enjoyed strong success during the late 2010s.
And throughout those eras, Labasa continued building its own proud identity as the football heartbeat of the North.
The Babasiga Lions’ recent cup history reflects that rise.
They reached the final in 2022 before losing to Suva, returned stronger to win the 2025 title against Rewa, and now enter 2026 carrying both confidence and expectation.
For many supporters, the possibility of winning back-to-back Fiji FACT titles — and doing so at home for the first time since 1992 — would represent something truly special.
But Hussain, Chand and Rabba also know that football in Labasa offers little room for complacency.
Victories are celebrated passionately. Defeats are analysed just as intensely.
That is the reality of leading one of Fiji’s proudest football districts.
As the road to BiC Fiji FACT 2026 continues, one thing already appears certain — the North is beginning to believe again.
And under the leadership of Shane Hussain, coach Alvin Chand and manager Ravinesh Chand, Labasa may once more be preparing for another historic chapter in its football story.
