Tavua FC clinched a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nasinu FC in the Premier Division final of the FMF Inter-District Championship (IDC) at Churchill Park, thanks to a decisive extra-time goal from striker Manasa Nawakula. The win secured a $6,000 prize for Tavua, while Nasinu took home $2,000 as the runners-up.
The match saw a strong start from both teams, with Nasinu executing their game plan and maintaining a solid defensive structure. Despite several opportunities, the first half ended scoreless, and the deadlock persisted through the full 90 minutes of regulation time.
The breakthrough came during the first half of extra time, when Tavua’s forwards pressed hard, eventually allowing Nawakula to find the back of the net. His goal proved to be the match-winner, as Tavua held on to secure the title. Nawakula dedicated the victory to the fans and families of the players, expressing his gratitude: “I want to thank God for helping the boys, and secondly, I want to thank my teammates for their hard work, without them, I wouldn’t have scored the goal. This victory is for the Tavua fans, who have been waiting for this for a long time.”
Throughout extra time, Tavua’s message remained clear: stay hopeful and keep fighting until the final whistle. Their perseverance paid off, delivering a memorable win for the team and supporters.
Nasinu head coach Jalindar Singh acknowledged the intensity of the match and credited Tavua’s efforts, saying, “Tavua was a tough team and they scored. For now, we will go back and prepare for next year.” Despite the loss, Nasinu’s performance showed promise as they look forward to regrouping and coming back stronger next season.
