A NEW FMF Inter District Championship champion will be crowned this year and Ba fans are already daring to dream again.
RC Manubhai Ba FC stormed into the final after a stunning 3–0 victory over defending champions Extra Supermarket Labasa in the first semi-final yesterday at 4R Stadium, Govind Park.
Ba striker Nabil Begg, who scored one of the goals, said the team’s performance was fuelled by inspiration from former Ba legends who visited their camp earlier in the week.
“We want to appreciate the Ba legends who visited us in camp and gave us wonderful advice, shared their experiences and boosted us for this day.
“We came here with a lot of pressure from the crowd and our families, but we talked in camp and told ourselves we have to deliver no matter what happens,” Begg said.
The 20-year-old added that the victory was dedicated to their supporters and families who filled the stands with black and white pride.
“This win is for our family seeing their faces cheering for us really motivated us.
“Also, to all our big fans, thank you for believing in us,” Begg added.
Ba came into the tournament as underdogs, with many writing them off before kick-off. But the young Men in Black showed heart, hunger, and pride playing with the spirit that made the district a football powerhouse for decades.
Ba took the lead in the 43rd minute when Vilitati Kautoga broke the deadlock, slotting the ball past Labasa goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau.
Labasa’s hopes of a comeback faded when striker Christopher Wasasala was sent off after receiving his second yellow card for a professional foul.
With the numerical advantage, Ba lifted the tempo in the second half.
Just two minutes in, Begg doubled the lead before Etonia Dogalau sealed the victory with a stoppage-time goal.
For Begg, the win was especially emotional — a reminder of his childhood memories from Ba’s last IDC triumph.
“The last IDC held in Ba was in 2015 I was just 10 years old, sitting in the stands watching. I even joined the crowd celebrating on the field when Ba lifted the trophy,” he recalled with a smile.
Now, a decade later, the boy from the stands has become one of the heroes on the field helping bring Ba back to where they belong, the IDC final.
