DAYALS Steels Ba FC coach Ravinesh Kumar said his players had to dictate the game and play their hearts out as they delivered the club its latest major title yesterday.
Ba FC were crowned the 2026 Extra Battle of the Giants champions after defeating Stratum/PPCL Rewa FC 2-1 in the final at 4R Stadium at Govind Park in Ba.
“I told the boys this is our home game, we need to dictate this game, play your hearts out and give your all, Rewa gave us a good game.
“Players performed positively, they came in with a positive attitude.
“We are Ba, we are stronger together,” Kumar said.
A record crowd of 9769 watched the final, making it the biggest attendance recorded during this year’s BOG tournament.
Both sides played a well-structured first half and stuck to their game plans, but neither could break the deadlock as the scores remained 0-0 at halftime.
Rewa was reduced to 10 men in the 54th minute after Sitiveni Rakai was shown a red card.
Ba, backed by thousands of passionate home supporters, finally broke the deadlock when Praneel Naidu scored the opening goal.
Penisoni Tirau then doubled Ba’s advantage in the 75th minute.
Rewa refused to give up and pulled a goal back through Merril Nand in the 83rd minute.
Ba defended strongly in the closing stages to hold on for the 2-1 victory and lift the BOG trophy on home soil.
Naidu was named Player of the Match.
Rewa coach Setareki Hughes thanked his players and supporters after the final.
“Thank God for the good game, thank the boys for a hard work, thank the boys for the hard work and thank you to the fans,” Hughes said. Ba FC will celebrate another successful season after also winning the Extra Premier League and Fiji FACT titles this year.
