Former Navua football head coach Saiyad Ali believes the district side has the consistency, experience and strengthened squad needed to mount another serious challenge for the 2026 Extra Battle of the Giants (BOG) title.
The prestigious tournament will be held from September 4-6 and September 12-13, with Navua again among the teams expected to feature strongly at 4R Stadium, Govind Park in Ba.
Ali said Navua had established itself as one of the country’s most consistent football teams over the past five years, regularly reaching the business end of major competitions despite falling short of winning a title.
“We have been playing one or two finals every season for the last five years and the team has been knocking on the door so many times,” Ali said.
“They have already played six or seven finals, and they haven’t won one yet.”
However, Ali believes this year’s BOG could provide another important opportunity for the side to finally break through.
He said Navua had retained and strengthened its core group of players, which could give the team an advantage over its rivals.
“This season, especially in the BOG, I have seen that they have strengthened the same team.”
“I think that gives them the edge over the other teams, and I think the preparation has been going well. The team is in camp now and they are all looking forward to a very good tournament.”
Ali also expects a highly competitive tournament, saying the standard of football in Fiji has risen following the introduction of the OFC Pro League.
He said the return of players from the professional competition, including national representatives and overseas players from countries such as Vanuatu, had added further quality and excitement to the local game.
“The competition level has gone up,” Ali said. Navua takes on Suva in the opening match of the tournament at 1pm on Friday.
