Nadi F.C.

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Nadi FC
Full name Nadi FC
Nickname(s) The Jetsetters
Founded 1937
Ground Prince Charles Park
Nadi, Fiji
(Capacity 10,000)
League National Football League (Fiji)
2006 3
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
Home colours

Nadi FC is a Fijian football team playing in the first division of the Fiji Football Association competitions. It is based in Nadi. Their home stadium is Prince Charles Park. Their uniform is green shirt, white shorts and white socks.

[edit] History

Nadi F.C. came into existence with the formation of the Nadi Indian Soccer Association in 1937 under the leadership of Edward Grant.[1] The local competition held during the year included the teams: Koronubu, Sabeto, Bhartiya and Vutualevu. Nadi played for the first time in the Inter-district competition in 1939, when it beat Nadroga in the preliminary round by 2 goals to nil but lost to Rewa in the semi-final by the same margin.

Nadi are 8 time champions of Fiji. The Nadi Team under the leadership of President Mr.Navaneeda K Gounder, a former Nadi and Fiji soccer rep,gained momentum in the late 90's and staked their claim as one of the giants of Fiji soccer.They have won their last two Inter District Championship finals (against Lautoka 3-1 in 1998 and Ba 1-0 in 1999), which came after their last IDC win in 1974. Nadi qualified for the championship after a 3-team playoff with Ba and Labasa. Ba were favourites to win the play-offs but were upset in the first match against Labasa by 3-0. Nadi then beat Labasa by 3-0 and Ba 1-0 to qualify for the Oceania Club Championship.

[edit] 1999 Oceania Club Championship

In the Championship, which they hosted, Nadi beat New Zealands Central United 1-0 in the semi finals courtesy of a Marika Namaqa free kick. Nadi, an amateur team, then lost the final to Australia's South Melbourne FC, a professional outfit, by 5-1. This match was played in heavy rain, with South Melbourne scoring 3 very controversial penalty kicks. Nadi's lone goal was scored by Watisoni Voli currently employed at Vinod Patel & Co Ltd.

The Nadi team of 1998/1999 were: Seremaia Tale, Waisiki Batina, Emosi Baleinuku, Kini Tubi, Ponipate Naulu, Timoci Matinitu, Thomas Roberts, Viliame Toma, Marika Namaqa, Masi Naitisiwai, Maika Kasaki, Watisoni Voli and Alipate Driu.

The next year in 2000, Nadi went undefeated in the National League by winning 17 of the 18 games and drawing one against Ba.

[edit] Former notable players

The Nadi soccer team has produced great players like

[edit] Achievements

1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1998, 2000
1969, 1971, 1974, 1998, 1999, 2002
1978, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1996
1996

[edit] Performance in OFC competitions

1999 - Finalist - Lost against South Melbourne FC Flag of Australia (stage 3 of 3)
September 26, 1999 15.30
South Melbourne FC Flag of Australia 5–1 Flag of Fiji Nadi Prince Charles Park, Nadi, Fiji
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: ?
Steve Isoifidis 8'
David Clarkson 16'
Michael Curcija 47' pen
Vaughan Coveny 50'
Steve Panopoulos 73' pen
(Report) Watisoni Voli 87'

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "FIJI FA District Affiliates". 

[edit] Bibliography

M. Prasad, Sixty Years of Soccer in Fiji 1938 – 1998: The Official History of the Fiji Football Association, Fiji Football Association, Suva, 1998.

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