The 2016 Vodafone National Club Championship (NCC) will kick-off this weekend with the zonal playoffs.

Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) competitions manager Amitesh Pal said the NCC would be held in the Central, Western and Northern divisions.

“We are awaiting nominations from districts for the clubs who have qualified to compete in the zonal playoffs and based on the nominations, pool draws will be done as well as the fixtures and the venues,” Pal said.

“The venues for the zonal playoffs and the NCC finals will be decided this week.”

The NCC is contested by the top teams from all of the football districts in the country. Pal said they are expecting the NCC to be a bigger and better one this year.

“We have seen high standard of competition in the Vodafone Premier League and we are expecting the same during the NCC.”

4R Electrical club from Ba are the defending champions after defeating Lautoka’s FC City United in the final last year.

Nadroga Protest

Meanwhile, Nadroga has lodged a protest against Nadi and Rewa for fielding unregistered players during the Vodafone Premier League.

Fiji Football Association chief executive Bob Kumar said.

“Nadroga filed a protest against Nadi’s Martin Navosa who featured against Labasa and Dreketi having being registered with Nadroga while protest against Rewa was in relation to Tevita Waranivalu,” Kumar said.

Nadroga finished at the bottom of the Premier League this season resulting in the side facing a direct demotion while Rakiraki moves up to play in the Premier League from the Senior Division.

Nadroga’s demotion will see the side joining Navua and Nasinu who are still struggling to move up to the top division since demoted from the top division years ago.

Edited by Osea Bola

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