Labasa F.C.
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| Full name | Labasa Football Club | |
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| Nickname(s) | Babasiga Lions | |
| Founded | 1942 | |
| Stadium | Subrail Park Labasa, Fiji |
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| Stadium capacity |
10,000 | |
| Manager | Satish Chand | |
| League | National Football League (Fiji) | |
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Labasa FC is a professional soccer team based in Labasa, Vanua Levu that competes in the premier division of the National Football League. The team is known for showcasing fast paced entertaining soccer with fancy footwork and has always been the crowds favorite.
History
A local football competition was held in Labasa from 1938. The competition included some ethnic Fijian Clubs. Labasa did not join the National Association when it was formed, in 1938, due to the distance of Labasa from the main island of Viti Levu, where all, except one, club was based.
Labasa FC enjoyed one of its historic moments when it defeated the visiting Tottenham Hotspur in a friendly on the teams tour of Fiji 3 goals to 1 at the Subrails Park in 1976.
In 1942, under the Presidency of Harold B. Gibson,[1] a former member of the Legislative Council, Labasa Soccer Association joined the national football body, then known as the Fiji Indian Football Association.
Labasa remained at the periphery of soccer in Fiji, struggling to compete with teams from Viti Levu, until 1969, when it hosted the Inter-District Championship (IDC) for the first time. Soccer suddenly flourished in Labasa and the team was runner-up in the IDC of 1972, 1973 and 1978. Labasa F.C. finally won the IDC for the first time in 1992, repeating the feat two years later in 1994. Labasa soccer team has to rely on its younger players since most of the experienced players are recruited by other districts.
In October 2011, the team won its third ever IDC tournament after defeating Ba F.C. (1-0) at the TFL National Stadium in Suva. Labasa's winning goal in the final was scored by striker, Maciu Dunadamu in the second half of the match after being supplied an excellent pass by Roy Krishna.[2]
Girmit Soccer Tournament is a football tournament organised in Fiji by the Fiji Football Association. The tournament was first held in 1979 to commemorate the centenary of the arrival of Indians in Fiji, under the indenture system, known as girmit by the Fiji Indians. The first tournament ended in controversy when Labasa was awarded the Girmit Cup when Ba defaulted the final game.
Achievements
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- Winner: 1991, 2007
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- Winner: 1992, 1994, 2011
- Runner-up: 1972, 1973, 1978
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- Winner: 1997
- Runner-up: 1986, 1993, 2000, 2002, 2008, 2012
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- Winner: 1992, 1997 (shared with Ba), 1999, 2015
- Runner-up: 1991, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011
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- Winner: 1992, 1997
- Runner-up: 1994
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- 1979
Players
Labasa has produced player like; Anand Sami, Gordon Leewai209-789-8536, Jimmy Zoing, Sam Lee, Hussein Sahib, Mike Jones, Ivor Evans, Brian Simmons, Johnny Williams, Robin Simmons, Sakiusa Narara, Taniela Tuilevuka, Solomone Seruiratu, Usenio Lagoivou, Nete Francis, Henry Francis, Solomone Catarogo, Buli Cama, Simon Peters, Waisale Rasoki, Vula Rokoqica, Epeli Rokoqica, Tevita Tukania, Petero Namoce, Epeli Levaci, Jope Lomu, Emori Ragata, Roy Krishna, Maciu Damudamu, Pita Boloitoga, Henry Dyer, Thomas Vulivuli, Dinesh Mudiliar, Sandeep Nair, Epeli Deyana, Eugene Williams, Ezra Williams, Apisolme Turuva, Sanaila Bera, Nemani Rasiga, Vereti Dixon, Amani Makoe, Manasa Levaci, Christopher Wasalala, Jale Dreloa, Misale Draunibaka, Posiano Kalisto, Setareki Huges, Akei Uluibau, Kaiava Rawaqa, Krishneel Krishna,Taione Kerevanua and so on.
Current Squad
Akuila Mateisuva (GK), Ilaisa Nayasi, Mohammed Jamshir Issac, Ratu Anare, Ashnil Raju, Sandeep Nair, Pene Erenio, Ravinesh Singh, Edwin Sahayam, Jesoni Takala, Christopher Wasasala, Manasa Levaci, Ilisoni Logaivou, Taione Kerevanua, Posiano Kalisito, Leone Damudamu, Gabriel Matanisiga, Pita Bolaitoga, Akeimi Ralulu, Waisake Wavuiwasa and Taniela Waqa (Captain)
See also
References
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- ↑ 2011 Courts IDC final - Fiji Times
