While the Fiji Sports Council acting CEO Gilbert Vakalalabure is thankful that Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has shown his concerns over the state of the HFC Bank Stadium, he also revealed an overwhelming $9million debt that has been affecting their operations.
Vakalalabure revealed to Times Sport that the Fiji Sports Council owes a $9m debt that was left by the previous administration.
He claimed that since coming into office in 2023, he was made aware that from 2019 the FSC had not submitted its audited account.
“I understand that it is not my fault, but I will take responsibility of the unaudited account since 2019 as I am now the leader (of FSC),” he said.
Vakalalabure also revealed that the FSC is paying $34,000 a week in debt to the HFC Bank.
The FSC acting CEO went on to say that the Fiji Sports Council spends $15,000 every week for operation costs at the stadium alone.
This includes the maintenance and upkeep of the ground and the facility as a whole.
Their source of revenue apart from sponsorship, he said, comes from their facilities and advertisements on respective billboards.
Vakalalabure said that no grant was given by the government for the past three years.
“I agree that the government is not giving any grant because the Fiji Sports Council did not submit its audited account since 2019.”
Vakalalabure is thankful that Rabuka spoke up about the issue because it now gives him leeway to work with the Ministry of Youth and Sports as well as the stadium’s naming rights holder, HFC Bank.
“I’m thankful that the Prime Minister is concerned about the state of the stadium. It shows that the nation is concerned.
“The ground will be prepared for the match against Tonga.”
Vakalalabure said that every move they take in keeping the stadium up to international standards will require funds which the FSC does not have.
The FSC was allocated $670,000 by the government in the 2025-2026 National Budget.
