Bula FC reps for Fiji FACT

Extra Bula FC players will be eligible to play for their respective districts at next month’s BiC Fiji FACT tournament after serving the mandatory 30-day stand down period from professional to amateur football. This is after their last OFC Pro League match last Sunday.

Fiji Football Association (Fiji FA) chief executive officer Mohammed Yusuf said yesterday players involved in the OFC Pro League campaign would become eligible to participate in amateur football from June 18, just a day before the Fiji FACT kicks-off in Labasa.

They can be re-registered in the COMET system for their own district, Yusuf said.

For example, the Rewa players can only play for Rewa and cannot move to any other district.

The Fiji FACT tournament is from June 19-21 at Subrail Park, Labasa.

The Fiji FA Council approved on January 11 that locally based- Bula FC players are not eligible to transfer to other districts during the mid-season transfer window, which opens on June 1. They must return to their parent districts after the professional league season. The ruling means several districts will receive a timely boost ahead of the Fiji FACT.

Rewa is expected to benefit from the return of Setareki Hughes, Gabriele Matanisiga, Delon Shankar, Josaia Sela, Ivan Kumar, Asivorosi Rabo and Tahiti United’s Tevita Waranivalu.

Lautoka will welcome back Sterling Vasconcellos, while Ba will be back to full strength with the inclusion of Nabil Begg and Rahul Naresh. Labasa also re-gain the services of Christopher Wasasala and Lekima Gonerau. Thomas Dunn and Filipe Baravilala return to Navua, while Nasinu will benefit with the return of Maikah Dau.

The players will only be eligible to represent their parent districts and will not be allowed to sign for another association during the transfer window period.

Meanwhile, the Extra Premier League (EPL) resumes this weekend with Nadi hosting Suva at 7pm on Friday at King Charles Park. On Saturday, Labasa hosts Rewa at 1.15pm at Subrail Park while Navua faces Nadroga at 3pm at the Uprising Sports Complex.

Sunday’s fixtures will see Lautoka taking on Tailevu/Naitasiri at 11am at Churchill Park while Ba meets Nasinu at Govind Park at 3pm.