NADI has stamped its mark in the Vodafone Western Zone under-16 football league competition after recording three straight wins.
Nadi thrashed Rakiraki 9-1, Tavua 1-0 and Nadroga 2-0.
The Junior Jetsetters will now play Lautoka and Ba before heading into round two of competition.
Home and away matches are being played in the zones with the top four districts qualifying for the semi-finals followed by the final to determine the winner.
Nadi-based lawyer Munsamy Chetty who is the new Nadi Football Association age-group director said he was very serious about junior development.
Chetty said he wanted the juniors to make their name in football which could help them earn a decent living through the sport.
“Fiji Football Association is encouraging development of the juniors and the age-group league competition plays a vital role,” he said.
“I would like to thank the Nadi Football Association president Javed Ahmed and his executives for their support to put a development structure in place for the past four years.”
Some of the players who came through the junior development program and are now in the Nadi senior squad include Tito Vodowaqa, Jone Ralulu, Sata Tale, Peni Tuigulagula, Patrick Joseph and Beniamino Lebatavatava.
“Nadi is focused on identifying, nurturing and developing young players who will eventually go through the system, climbing to the top level,” Chetty said.
“We are proud to have young players who just graduated from youth level like Patrick Joseph, Peni Tuigulagula and Tito Vodowaqa who have been selected into the Vodafone Fiji squad.
“As part of the plan the Jack’s of Fiji Nadi team is targeting to draft at least five players from the youth development system every year.
“We are thankful to the support from the parents and sponsors in our bid to develop more potential footballers for the district team and also go up to don the national jumper and even secure an overseas contract like Siberia wonder boy Roy Krishna.”
