Labasa faces a tough challenge in the pool stage of the upcoming Extra Battle of the Giants (BOG) tournament, set to kick off next weekend at Subrail Park.
The hosts are grouped with heavyweights Ba, Lautoka, and the unpredictable Nadroga in what is being dubbed the “group of death.”
Labasa, who recently suffered a 1-4 loss to Lautoka in the Extra Premier League, will have limited time to bounce back before the tournament begins on Friday, August 1.
Despite the recent setback, the team remains hopeful of making an impact on home soil.
Pool B will see current league leaders Rewa battle against Navua, Suva, and Nadi, setting the stage for an equally competitive set of fixtures.
Fiji Football Association CEO Mohammed Yusuf said fans can expect a thrilling tournament.
“It is going to be a very exciting tournament,” said Yusuf.
“The tournament moves to Labasa after more than two decades. Labasa, the winners of the recent Fiji FACT tournament and one of the top teams of the Extra Premier League, will be glad to host this tournament and will be one of the favourites for this tournament.
“Seven points separate the top six teams in the national league so it will be very hard to say which team qualifies for the semi-finals,” Yusuf added.
Extra Supermarket chief marketing officer Lailanie Burnes also highlighted the significance of the venue.
“Labasa is not just another venue. For us, it’s home. We have a strong connection to the community through our store in Labasa and we know how extremely passionate the fans of Labasa football are,” Burnes said.
“So, to be able to bring this level of football to Labasa is something we are extremely proud of,” she added.
The tournament returns to Labasa for the first time since 2002. Nadroga won the title that year.
