The Standard Hire sponsored Labasa Football team is the 2019 season champions of Fiji.
This was after the Babasiga Lions defeated a star studded Ba side 2-1 in the Pillay Garments Champion versus Champion (CvC) series for season 2019 at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori last Sunday.
After a nil-all draw in the first leg played at Churchill Park in Lautoka last Friday, both teams had a point to prove in the second leg of the series which was hosted by Labasa.
Ratu Anare was the hero for the Labasa side scoring a brace to help lift the CvC title for the fourth time.
Both teams went firing from the first whistle as goalkeepers Akuila Mateisuva (Labasa) and Misiwani Nairube (Ba) stole the show with some superlative saves.
Anare got the opening goal in the 36th minute before Ba’s Vanuatu import Micah Tommy found the equalizer in the 59th minute.
Labasa suffered a blow in the 81st minute when subsititute Sitiveni Rakai copped a direct red card three minutes after entering a field before Ba’s Pranil Naidu was showed a second yellow and his marching orders in the 85th minute.
While the 1-1 score-line was very much in favour of the Men in Black on the away goal rules, it was in the 92nd minute when Anare broke the hearts of the mighty Ba fans after nailing the winner following a low cross from veteran Taniela Waqa.
Winning coach Ronil Lal said it was a reward for their hard work.
“First of all, I would like to thank the officials, players and the Almighty for this victory,” Lal said.
“It’s a reward for us, the hard work has paid off.
“We had the determination till the last minute. Few changes made in the last few minutes and it clicked.
“The team has proven today that Labasa is going on the right track.”
Lal said teamwork has been their secret to success.
“It’s the bonding between the players and the officials.
“With us, it’s like a family affair. Players are free to discuss things with us their problems, if they feel something is not right or whatever it is, and this team bonding is the secret.”
