Christmas came early for the Vinz Works Suva football side as they finished off the season 2020 in style lifting the Vodafone Fiji FACT title beating Esy Kool Nadi 1-0 in the final at Labasa’s Subrail Park on Sunday.
The Jetsetters were in full force since the opening whistle as Avinesh Waran Suwamy’s two pile-drivers within five minutes were bravely tapped away by goalkeeper Beniamino Mateinaqara.
It was the 49th minute own goal by Nadi which made the overall difference as Shahil Dave’s cross inside was fumbled by the defenders as Afraz Ali’s heading clearance hit the back of Serevi Waqa and landed into his own net.
Nadi fought tooth and nail until the last whistle, however the stubborn Suva defense with brave goalkeeping saw the Capital City Boys lifting the second major title of the year.
Winning coach Babs Khan commended his boys for the heroic effort.
“I’m really proud of the boys as they have been always showing a good character.
“They stood up in the Vodafone Premier League and once again they did it here in the Vodafone Fiji FACT.
“It’s about taking chances. We adopted to the system, the ground and we made the goal,” Khan said.
Suva Football Association president Ritesh Pratap was overjoyed after win.
He said this was a much awaited victory.
“We having been playing a lot of finals and every time we went home heart-broken.
“But we never lost hope, tried to regroup and this is indeed a sweet victory for us.
“Thank you to all the boys, fans, sponsors and everyone who have supported the team in any way,” he said.
Pratap said something will surely be planned to celebrate the victory as it the day was written into Suva’s history books with the Capital City Boys also lifting the Vodafone Futsal IDC which ended at FMF Gymnasium the same afternoon.
Suva walked away $17,000 richer together with the FACT crown and medals while Nadi received $5,000, runner up trophy and medals.
